flying with an American airline,
Says it all really. Why did they imagine that flying with an American airline would give them a better 'experience'? (to use an Americanism). Most of the American carriers I've flown with in recent years have left me less than impressed. The crew behave like automatons and have no interest in their passengers, or whatever euphemism they use nowadays.
As others have already said, EU carriers give you a much better 'experience' and have a more responsible attitude towards their 'passengers'