Air miles eased pain

Regarding “Stuck on a Plane at LAX,” by Catharine Hamm, July 24: I was stuck on a runway at LAX for almost two hours on an American Airlines plane after returning in June from Quito, Ecuador.

When I got home, I emailed American a complaint, and the airline compensated me with 5,000 miles for my frequentflier account.

I didn’t know if I would be compensated or if American would even reply, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. KATHLEEN BATTERSBY

Culver City

I just read the response to “Stuck on a Plane at LAX.” The two paragraphs about friends picking you up at LAX were the most entertaining journalism I have read in many months, but unfortunately so true.

My question: Why not use the surrounding regional airports more, especially Ontario? KEN SCOFIELD

Redlands

I marvel that every week Hamm can write a well-researched On the Spot column that does not make one’s eyes glaze over.

In her July 24 column, the visuals of Southwest getting a “smack on the behind” and the Department of Transportation “shaking its finger” produced a chuckle.

As for “trifecta of tardiness,” I will steal that phrase for my annual holiday letter and cite three reasons for missing — yet again — the Christmas deadline. Is this plagiarism? CAROL CLARK Los Feliz