Sheryl Lee Ralph has had sufficient of the turbulence that appears to return with flying today — and he or she’s making it recognized.
In a submit shared on X on Saturday, Dec. 20, the 68-year-old actress known as out American Airways after what she described as a chaotic and poorly managed check-in expertise throughout latest vacation journey.
“Effectively over one hour within the First Class/precedence check-in line throughout vacation journey. Minimal staffing. Few solutions. No sense of urgency or care and delayed. Vacation journey is just not an excuse,” the Abbott Elementary star wrote.
Ralph went on to criticize what she considered as a troubling lack of accountability and take care of paying clients.
“The dearth of empathy, accountability, and even acknowledgment of the inconvenience conveyed a troubling indifference, one which no buyer ought to expertise, and definitely not those that have chosen to spend probably the most to fly together with your airline,” she added.
The Emmy winner tagged the airline straight, together with its CEO, Robert Isom.
The submit rapidly went viral, with different social media customers flooding her replies to share related tales of lengthy traces, quick staffing, and communication breakdowns.
American Airways responded publicly, providing an apology with out additional addressing Ralph’s broader considerations.
“Ready frustrates us too, and our apologies for the longer than anticipated traces at verify in,” the airline wrote. “We’ll share your suggestions with airport leaders to allow them to evaluate it internally.”
Ralph’s feedback arrive throughout a turbulent yr for air journey general, one compounded by a latest authorities shutdown that resulted in furloughs and delayed paychecks for 1000’s of federal staff, together with Transportation Safety Administration officers and different aviation personnel deemed important. Whereas many continued working with out pay, staffing shortages and low morale rippled by airports nationwide.
Her submit additionally arrives as American and different main carriers have maintained that they’re ready to deal with this yr’s vacation rush. In a latest vacation journey launch, the airline introduced that it expects to serve greater than 12 million clients throughout over 119,000 flights this season — a rise from final yr.
“Our greater than 130,000 workforce members are dedicated to creating our clients’ journeys on American this vacation season protected, dependable and pleasing,” mentioned David Seymour, the airline’s chief working officer.
He added that the corporate has been intently coordinating with federal companions and is assured they’re able to assist the surge in journey.
“Our workforce did an unimaginable job caring for purchasers through the latest Thanksgiving vacation and is happy to be serving them once more wherever they’re headed for the vacations,” he continued. “We’ve got been intently coordinating with our federal companions on the FAA, TSA and CBP, and we’re assured that they’re able to associate with us to make this vacation season a hit.”
