I never had any bad experience on American Airlines and have traveled on them about 70 flights, both business and personal. Staff seems they like their jobs and planes in good shape, never dirty or anything crazy happen.
American has $30B of debt and made some terrible business decisions over the past 25 years.
Sure United will want to be a vulture and pick through the scraps of meat.
Of all companies, I did fly them the least, and Jet Blue.
I mostly flew Delta when living in the Southeast, but Northwest when I lived in Detroit, and now for a long time United, as they control pretty much Colorado.
My experience with AA is going from absolute horror to positive surprise.
In 2015, I flew to St. Martin with them from Denver to Miami, then to St. Martin. Both times ended up in B737-800. That was the time when they famously shrunk lavatories to fit more seats. I am 6.2, 250lbs, size 13 shoes. That was the most miserable travel experience in an airplane, and I flew in Antonov's in the 90s quite often.
Positive, some 7-8yrs ago I ended up somehow on their A330-300 from Paris to Philadelphia. I think they either did not update their cabin or just that is how it is, but the seats were leatherette, nice ones, wide, enough space for legs, really nice flight.
It is not only a product, but it is also everything with AA. I know they are strong in Latin America, but in Europe, they are a minor player. Network does not make sense, and I think their hubs, except few like MIA, DFW and ORD are a problem.
