Travelers, Businesses Left In Limbo

American Airlines’ pilots haven’t struck yet, but the threat already is sending ripples through the economy.

Business and leisure travelers were scrambling Thursday to get reservations with other airlines. Businesses that rely on shipments by American also were busy making alternate plans.

The U.S. Postal Service, which moves 2 percent of its mail on American planes and is American’s biggest freight customer, is shifting mail to other airlines, rail and truck.

Thinking about giving a beautiful bird of paradise flower for Valentine’s Day? Think again. American flights from Colombia, where much of those flowers come from, have been suspended.

But some people likely to be affected took the strike threat in stride.

Tina Gillenwater, who is scheduled to fly home on American from Cancun, Mexico, on Feb. 21, was unperturbed.

“I can think of worse places than Cancun to be stranded,” said the Washington, D.C., legal assistant.