Customer Care Outsourcing is stoopid

I would like to invite you into a conversation I had today with the Customer Care hotline of American Airlines:

Customer Care Agent:  "Good morning, my name is James, how can I help you?"

Me:  "Good morning, James, how are you?" (trying to start off on a positive note...)

Customer Care Agent: "I am sorry, ma'am, I don't understand the question, let me refer you to someone else.  Hold please."

Me: ... (stunned silence)