I’m not sure why people are still flying American if Southwest is available. Last time I flew American, I had to pay a booking fee. They also charge to make a change and now charge for bags. Southwest clearly is more accommodating.

This is an airline destined to go by the wayside. I can not wait to use my last frequent flyer ticket with them then kiss them goodbye. Not that TWA was perfect but this is the most non customer focused company I have ever dealt with.

Things cost what they cost. Charles Williams, it’s not like both American or Southwest fly to all of the same destinations. St. Louis sucks for an airport. Quite often you don’t have a choice of which airline you want to take depending on where you’re going. The bottom line is, people still need to get where they’re going and will do so as cheap as possible if options are available. It’s only bad for American Airlines if they price themselves above competition.

I live in Dallas (AA’s headquarters) and am shocked by this move. Bad idea. This will definitely affect my personal travel plans.

1. There is not enough overhead storage to accomodate all luggage.
2. This will increase security lines and lenghthen the boarding process considerably.
3. Moving luggage from the belly of the plane to the cabin is not going to decrease their fuel bill. This is just silly.

Wasn’t so long ago that they were urging people to check luggage because of overhead bin crowding! Can you imagine what this new policy will do to carry-on? Will the $15 offset the cost of the line delays as people try to get through security with things they use to check? Talk about a mess!

I wish they would just adjust their ticket price instead. The line to check bags with them will be huge as the skycaps process all the $15 payments; and the line for security will be worse as the TSA has to scan all the additional bags folks will try to carry on. More cabin bags will lead to increased boarding times and a more cramped cabin. I’d much rather pay a surcharge on my ticket than deal with the havoc that this new policy will cause. I also feel sorry for the skycaps who will no doubt loose gratuities as people will assume part of the $15 goes to them.

American Airlines has become just terrible, their flights are always delayed, their customer service is lousy, their flight attendants always seem unhappy and now this! It’s bad enough waiting for people who choose not to check their bags to find space in the overhead bins, this is going to make that situation intolerable. My tip of the day–buy Southwest stock!

So they want to reduce total cargo weight. Will they focus on body weight too? Might be a way to encourage weight loss if you can bring a free case if you weigh less.

This will mean even more people hauling on more luggage. The bins will fill up early, people will get even more aggravated, and the flight attendants will then have to deal with gate-checked baggage — will they find a way to then charge for that? All this will just delay the boarding process, and make for longer security lines. Increasing the price of the ticket would have been a better way to deal with fuel price increases.

I will look into other airlines. I think the price of the flight and all other fees is more than enough to pay now!!
It is wrong to penalize the average family that just travels for vacations and on long trips that require checked baggage. Especially for couples with children and everything they have to have with them to travel.
I will not pay the baggage fee on top of everything else.
I really liked flying with American, but they are adding fees that will turn business away for sure!

We new charges had to be coming after the fiasco over the MD-80 safety downing of flights.

I never take baggage on the plane. I think people without carry-ons should be allowed to get on and off the plane first (after the infirm). Carry-ons hold up the boarding and unboarding. If you don’t want to have to go to baggage claim, then you should have to wait for those people without bags to get off the plane first, which would only take like 5 minutes, instead of everyone having to wait 15-20 minutes for those who have carry-ons to drag them out of the overhead compartments.

People without bags should also have their own line at the security checkpoints. Why should others be tied up in line having to wait because someone else doesn’t want to check their bag?

Wow, just what we need…another charge, surcharge, fee, convenience cost, whatever you want to call it.
This is why we drive to our ski vacations.
Mandy St. Amand

Terrible idea. After the TSA instituted the see through bag with toiletries limited to sample size – that had to be removed from the bag and sent down the x-ray machine separately - the number of checked bags soared. Now with AA charging $15 for the first bag (no word on price for the second), everyone will try to carry again – which (thanks to the above mentioned toiletries rule) will make the security screening line a circus.

Boarding will be the next area affected – as people try to slip increasingly large bags through, knowing it would take a sledge hammer to fit them into an overhead bin. When these people get confronted by the gate agent, be prepared for a fight as they challenge the rules (and the fee) and argue that their bag should be permitted.

Of course, the ultimate battle will be in the cabin – people stopping loading trying to shoehorn their bags into bins, people moving across half the aircraft trying to find a clear spot, and the clincher, people getting mad at passengers who stuff all their carry ons into overhead bins so they can have their foot room free. Oh yeah, it will be epic.

I think this is a crazy idea! Carrying passenger luggage either in the belly or overhead bins is still going to affect their fuel bill. I don’t understand the need for the charge. Why don’t they just tack it on to the airfare as a surcharge?
I’ve got over 200000 frequent flyer miles with this airline and unfortunately don’t fly enough to qualify for Gold status any longer. I use to travel two weeks out of the month. Guess I’ll be looking for ways of using those miles.
I will now be more likely to check Southwest before booking my next flight. American is just grasping at straws!!

What I can’t understand why everyone is trying their best to collect money for fuel charges. When the government doesn’t wake up and do something about the horrible fuel prices.

I’m with Sarah - why are the airlines so worried about extra pounds coming from baggage and not from people? Not really fair that my 100-pound self has to pay the same price as a 400-pound man.

So American, what’s next, paying the flight attendants to use the restroom?

This is a bad idea, will give passengers an added incentive to carry yet more baggage on board rather than checked, carry-on is already abused enough.

Wow, what a lousy marketing decision. If they’d just quietly adjusted their ticket prices, no one would have noticed or cared. This is just going to make people angry and lead to the kinds of issues in security lines, on boarding, etc. that posters have already noted. Best thing American could do would be to say — today — Whoops! that was dumb, we heard you, never mind, we’ll just adjust ticket prices. They’ll never do it though.

Is American trying to force themselves out of business? If you are flying there is probably a good chance you are going to be gone for more than a few days, so a carry-on isn’t going to cut it. Doesn’t anyone at that airline have a masters in business?

There’s already a limit for carry-ons and now a charge for checked luggage? Sounds like my family of 4 would have to ship our stuff ahead if we planned to travel for any length of time. I wonder if UPS or Fedex is cheaper?

I remember the days when travelers actually enjoyed flying. Desk and gate personnl were friendly. Passengers would be welcomed aboard by sincere flight attendants. Food and drink was provided. A decent amount of leg room, pillows and blankets were standard. Travelers could check at least two large bags and not have to wait 45 minutes plus at the destination baggage claim area. Flights left and arrived on time unless there was bad weather. Airline personnel would apologize if the flights were delayed and they would always be polite. As a result, many people would fly rather than drive. Those also were the days when airlines were profitable and their employees didn’t have to worry about big holding companies making personnel reductions without consideration to “real” seniority. Today, Southwest Airlines is the best of the horribly bad lot of airlines. SWA still requires standing in line in hopes of getting a decent seat, very little leg room, no food (except peanuts) and a fairly good on-time record. Their cabin pesonnel are somewhat friendly to passengers. However, SWA is getting more and more like AA or USAirways — expensive and not particulary customer-friendly, especially desk and gate personnel. Today, it takes a great deal of time to check-in; wait at the gate; be extremely uncomfortable on a late-arriving old (and perhaps unsafe)plane; pick-up baggage at the destination (should it arrive there); secure a rental car. If you compare ticket cost (plus all the surcharges),the time required at the airports, plus the actual flying time — driving your own car is becoming more and more attractive, high gas prices not withstanding. Before long, many travelers will probably decide to either stay home or take alternative transportation. High fuel prices are a lame excuse for the costs and inconviences airlines are placing on their customers. Unless I’m traveling coast to coast or overseas, I intend to drive my own car; make my own decisions; eat what, when and where I want; save money and (most importantly) avoid a great deal of aggravation. And do you know what? The customer service is terrific in my car because I really care about my passengers’ safety and comfort.

So let’s see:

1. This will encourage even more overcrowding of the luggage bins in the cabin. More carryon items means longer security lines, longer boarding time, longer deboarding time.

2. It’s going to take longer to check bags, too, since they’ll have to collect the fee. And skycaps will lose tip money.

3. When baggage carrying was free, people were unhappy, but tolerated it if their bag was mishandled, damaged, or sent to the wrong city. But God help them if they think people are going to give up their $15 without a fight when they’re in New York and their luggage is in Atlanta.

In summary… a brilliant move.

I do my best not to fly American Airlines. My last experience with them ended when I saw a worker climb on to the wing of the plane I was sitting on with a roll of duct tape so that he could secure a loose part. American is a poorly run business and my expectation of them is pretty low.
Still, I don’t think I have a choice about paying an extra fee now that American has adopted this policy. Airlines are like sheep. It’s only a matter of time until the others follow. I hate to say this, but even Southwest is slipping. Last week I took 3 flights on Southwest. Every one of them was late.

I sure don’t fly American anymore. They said they wouldn’t gut TWA. They said they wouldn’t cut service. They did both, including firing longstanding TWA flight crews with lots of experience and keeping greenhorn AA pilots. In the air, experience saves lives. And more than one AA employee blamed me and other St. Louisans for being angry when we found we were lied to! Classy.

I fly Southwest, which treats me fairly, doesn’t charge for breathing (and in fact doesn’t charge any fees, really), has one of the youngest fleets in the industry, has fair prices, and still manages to make a profit.

Hey, AA. Do what Southwest is doing. Then maybe you’ll win back some of those customers.

But not me. I’m already gone.

I can’t see this as a good business plan for AA.In my opinion they should have built the cost into the fare as we all are aware of inflation due to the over pricing of oil.In the end there is very little the flying public can do if AA is the only carrier to your destination.

I’ll pay my $15 per bag (which is ridiculous - who travels without ANY luggage), IF they enforce the carry on baggage rules for size of bag and number of carry-ons.

I can remember when I avoided Southwest at all costs, in favor of TWA. Then American purchased TWA. And we all know that American is no TWA!

Now I avoid American in favor of Southwest. Southwest is the best: on time, friendly, clean, and priced reasonably.

I’m scheduled to fly American on 5/30 because Southwest doesn’t service my destination city.

But with American’s baggage announcement, from this day forward, I’ll intentionally avoid using them, unless there are no viable alternatives available.

American is the most out of touch airline in the business. The reason I need to take a bag is for my clothes etc. because I am flying AWAY FROM HOME. They should take the lead from many foreign airlines who are cheaper, more efficient, friendly and enforce reasonable policies for their customers. Once my frequent flyer miles are gone, good bye American.

My wife and I already have AA tickets for vacation starting June 16th. If we had known about this, we would be on a different airline.

I hate to say it but the suggestions to just increase ticket prices won’t work. The vast majority of passengers choose an airline ticket *just* by price. Amenities such as meals, in flight entertainment and leg room are just not considered by most people.

As much as I miss the days of hot meals, jet fuel is now one-third of expenses for an airline. That doesn’t count wages, maintenance or the cost of the airplanes themselves!

American’s cost of jet fuel was up $665 Million in the first quarter alone compared to 2007 — the equivalent of $60 per roundtrip flight. Did your tickets go up that much in price? Probably not.

Lots of good comments. We all are getting screwed. Especially those of us that live in St Louis, not many choices. If you are going to charge $15 make sure you enforce the carry on size limits, isn’t that what those boxes are for at the gate? Maybe they are setting themselves up for a merger? A merge with SWA would be great, then they could get rid of all the crabby AA flight attendents.

Sorry to say, but American - your sun is setting.

The $15.00 charge for luggage to be checked in, will this cause more people to carry on luggage and no space. Should they charge if you bring it on board?

I will absolutely avoid American Airlines. How exactly are you suppose to travel with no luggage? At least one checked bag should always be included in the price of a ticket. For people who continue to fly American Airlines this policy will force them to try and push carry on limits and cause problems inside the plane. Shame on American for this!!

Cut service and raise prices - what a great idea!

You are all working too hard here. I’m going to wear all the clothes at once that I’ll need for the trip and not use luggage. It may get a little dicey when it’s a long trip, but it will save me the $15 or more. Also, I’ll be using the hotel’s in-room shampoo, conditioner, iron, and lotion. If you stay at a Drury Inn or Hampton, you can pick up toothpaste, toothbrush, and hairspray at the front desk. Sure, it might be uncomfortable flying, but really, I won’t have to worry about my bags coming up missing. Since airlines aren’t worrying about how heavy I’ll be, I should be golden. I’ll also be able to ask for that expandable seatbelt that they give extra large people. I’m toast, however, should the airplane get stuck on the tarmac for a couple of hours…

The additional charges are crazy. There is not an icrease of fuel charges due to baggages. People are not increasing the amount of luggage when they travel from years past. If they have to start charging then they should add it on to the ticket costs.

AA is acting like they are inconvenienced by people traveling with them. If they can no longer operate without tacking on these additional charges maybe they should restructure and become a small private commuter operation for business travelers.

The idea of charging people for bringing clothes on a trip. What next charging for the air they breathe in the cabin or for use of the lavatory? Are they going to reduce the pay for flight attendants and expect us to make it up in tips?

That is why I always fly Southwest. They are definitely the most reasonable and their customer service is awesome. American Airlines will basically go out of business at the rate they are going.

I have sympathy with the airlines when it comes to the increased cost of jet fuel. There can be no argument there. We have to understand this and accept some ticket upcharge if airlines are to continue to exist. That said, this is an absolutely stupid decision that has implications beyond their own baggage load and is arrogant and selfish. More carry on baggage means more on-boarding chaos. More carry on baggage means more parcels going through and slowing down security check points, affecting more than just American flights. More carry on baggage creates even more surly flight attendants. All of this on top of a flying experience that is already atrocious. Until other airlines’ fares are too expensive or they too go to this length to make fliers’ lives difficult, I will evade American Airlines. This is the same airline that grounded planes for days upon days not long ago because of inspection issues. I would think after that fiasco that American would have a more customer-centric approach to revenue generation. Additional revenue generation by American, I accept. Doing it in this manner is outrageous.

Is upper management agreeing to pay cuts of their bloated, obnoxious salaries to help right the ship? I thought not. God forbid millionaires should suffer.

Why not continue to fly Southwest,safer,cheaper and nicer!!!

What is AA thinking? It’s the bean counters that thought this out, but did not think of the operational needs of this. As a former airline employee, I have first hand knowledge of what’s going to happen with this. The airline is going to start charging for the first checked piece of luggage, this will cause most passengers to carry on their bags, thus creating a log jam on the plane, because someone, somewhere will overstuff their bag and will try to cram it into the overhead. Then after the overheads are filled, they will cram their carry ons under the seats, thus affecting the leg room on an already cramped flight. Families traveling will be able to use all their children to carry on 1 bag, plus 1 personal item (backpack, purse, computer, etc.), as the airline doesn’t not have age limits for carrying on bags, other than they have to have a ticket. So in effect, families will be able to bring a lot more luggage, than the person traveling alone (such as myself). Airlines used to worry about on time performance, with all the carry ons that will be coming, AA will either have to start boarding earlier, or they will take a penalty from the DOT for not pulling out of the gate on time. Someone already mentioned that if the bags are so overstuffed that they don’t fit overhead or under the seat, the airlines usually do a late check at the plane door. What happens in this case, when you still have a line of people lined up at the jetway, bags laying around by the plane door, will AA be collecting $15.00 at this time? The flight attendants are too busy getting the aircraft ready to leave and assisting passengers, then if the jetway fills up with bags, there’s a chance that the bags might get over looked and the plane leaves without them, or because of the excess bags that might come forward to be checked, a baggage handler might ‘mistakenly’ mislabel the bags, or just not care and throw them on another flight somewhere else, or on another flight going to your destination for a later time, causing you to wait at the arrival airport for your bags, or going back later for them. One last point was already brought up also, is that the SkyCaps will lose out on tips, and everyone knows if they are not tipped properly, your bags may end up in hawaii while your waiting for them in paris.

a desperate move by a desperate airline. Sure glad we bulldozed all those trees and forced all those folks in Bridgeton to move, so we could build runways that will be used less and less.

I think this is crazy nickel and diming people plus the extra work for your ticket agents. You are aggravating your customers to the point peole will stay home rather than hassle with the hoops you make them go through to travel. The government needs to step up and reduce the tax on fuel for airlines only. I am a travel agent and no one is traveling. You could be picking up the families who don’t want to drive far to a destination because of gas.

Congress needs to do something about the lack of oil research and oil refineries in our country. We should be in control of our oil production and not dependent on foreign countries. Your lobby should be fighting for that.

Yeah yeah, charge here, fee there.. Well, the enviro-geeks have just about ruined this country by not allowing us to drill our own oil & now airlines are starting to suffer like the rest of us. Get used to it. My only answer is build our railroad system back up to what it used to be. Trains, especially the electrified systems in Europe, are the most economic and fuel-savvy way to move people and freight.

American Airlines is a joke, but so are almost all other airlines. I’m so feed up with airline travel in general that I wish I could change jobs. I almost always tried to drive in a 250 mile radius, but have increased that to 400-500 miles. This is a service business that have no service. The only reason they are in existence is that we HAVE to use them, what else is there? They can do what they want because there are no consequences to their actions. If I treated my customers like this, I’d be out of a job in short order. Sorry for the rant — nothing is going to change for the better in the airline industry, but it does help that most feel the same. See you on the next flight out. I’ll be the one with a long face!! Oh, sorry, that describes most of us!!

Even though the cost of gas has gone through the roof, it’s still cheaper for me to drive to my desination with all these extra fees. How am I supposed to take a 1 year old to visit her great grandparents if I’m charged for every checked item? You’ve got to be kidding! At least if I spend the money for gas to drive myself I can take everything I want and not leave things at home just because I would have to pay for them with the airlines.
I have to agree with the people who rant about the travelers who push the carry on limit. Before I had my daughter, I checked as much as I could. I would take my purse and a book and it was delightful. I would laugh and joke about the traveler who had a purse, laptop and roller bag that barely fits in the overhead who would have to take 10 minutes to settle into and out of their seat. Come on, this whole thing is ridiculous!
I’ll be happy to stay home or drive thank you!

That’s crazy! I can see charging for a 2nd bag, oversize or overweight bag, but everyone needs luggage. It’s going to make a mess at the counter: “I see you have your ticket. How many bags to check? Just one? That’ll be an extra $15.”

This is ridiculous. It is rather like ordering a BigMac and being told I have to pay 15¢ if I want the special sauce.
I have been flying for forty years. Airline travel used to be luxurious, relaxing and convenient; it is anything but that today. The airline attendants were well dressed, well mannered and well - attendent. Over the years the domestic airline service has been a textbook example of what to do to alienate their customers; complicated multi-layer pricing; discounts based upon inconsistancies in advanced purchases; over-booking; non-refudable and non-transferable tickets; change ticket charges; reduction in services; meals and snacks discontinued; frequent flyer plans with more restrictions than a juevenal detention centre; charging for the ticket before the service is provided; long check-in lines even before 9/11. Admittedly, the relative price of a ticket is much less than it was forty years ago, but not twenty years or so back when this customer service reduction plan began. The problem is that there are not any good alternatives to flying. The domestic train service is pathetic, domesic bus service - likewise, many destinations are are too great a distance for automobile or bus travel and most of us are in too much of an hurry anyway. However, what really baffles me is how monopolistic all of the airlines operate. What one does, the others quickly follow suit. Just as there are discount ailines (Southwest - I dislike the cattle car boarding), I would think there would be full service carriers for those who, are willing to pay a bit more to be treated with the courtesy and respect that a customer should be able to expect. The problem with first class is that it is exhorbantly priced, and except for the flight time, the service is just as poor and even the first class flight service is hardly first class anymore.

It’s a good thing the flights I booked last week are frequent flier rewards. If this would’ve happened after I paid for a fare, holy heck would’ve broken out.

It would seem to be true that the airlines have contracts with the companies that supply them the fuel. Therefore, they have set costs to pay for their fuel, according to the contract.

I am not sure why (other than greed) the airlines are blaming rising fuel costs on recent fee increases. Sounds like someone is lining their pockets with the extra money coming in. I’m hoping that the other airline don’t follow behind this bad idea.

How long will it be before we have to PERSONALLY step on the scale at the check-in kiosk to be weighed??? Charging for a bag is a terrible PR move! They could have just added it into the ticket price and with inflation like it is, we would all shrug and bear it! I avoid any airline but SouthWest and now I have even more reasons!!

Any fee AA or any other airline wants to impose is fine by me. The airline passenger market in general needs to be flushed out so the casual travel er is forced into some other mode of travel. This way only people who NEED to fly will do so. If you WANT to fly, you pay the equilibrium price which in reality is much higher than the current price. Service should then improve for those who need to travel.

There is no law that says everyone must fly cheaply. Come on people should you really be able to fly across country and pay less than it would cost to drive? Flying, like gasoline, has been below its actual price for years. Corrections are in order. Airlines in general were just waiting for one of them to impose this fee. Others will follow soon.

I do think there should be a weight limit on the actual person or make them pay extra for their extra. Think of it as another fee for stuffing Kripy Kremes and Cinnabons down your throat.

Setting here in my hotel, traveling on business, looking at my American Platinum status card, I am saying why …….. this is one bad choice, and it is a choice, by American. For all the reasons already stated (more carry-on, more idiots, more trouble) this makes me want to find another job with little to no travel. Who needs all this travel and headaches from travel, American and most airline are just terrible. Leaving in St. Louis, we have been taken over and over again. St. Louis, and the airline business is going down fast. Its going to be trouble, expect a lot of trouble American.

Not only are the security lines going to be long. How about the counter check in while we wait for everyone to pay. I fly a lot and I have yet to have a complete trip this year that wasn’t delayed or canceled. Just one more way American says thank you to their customers they don’t care about.

One companies problems can become another’s opportunity.

UPS, FedEx, US Postal or DHL can ship your luggage ahead of time probably for a similar cost. How wonderful is it to arrive at your Hotel and your luggage is already in your room? And you don’t have to drag your luggage around a dirty over crowded airport.

As a consumer we understand that increases in fares are related to their cost increases, but when you see things like American charging for snacks, not cleaning their plans (Have you looked in the seat pocket?? I wont touch anything in there)The gate areas are dirty, lack electric outlets,(Hey, keep up with the times) seats are torn and it is noisy, what is cost related and what is they don’t care about a customers experience. Would American Airline executives fly with the consumer? I don’t think so.

Flying today is worse than bus travel in its worse days. I talk to more and more people who are renting Avis cars to travel, even with the price of gas, it is still cheaper, but mostly they say it is just so much more comfortable and so much less stressfully.

Having moved to St.Louis and now being dependent on American it is clear the issues go beyond fuel prices. This is a poorly managed airline. Unions have given back only to find the CEO taking an all time high salary and bonus. Staff is not happy, and they show it. Planes are dirty. old. and poorly maintained. There is too high a dependence on Embrarers, small uncomfortable planes that fill up the air and cause delays. Baggage handling is slow. My bigger concern is how the cutbacks will effect St. Louis. I travel for business and its already hard to get to most places. It will be worse. Somehow, AA has lost the idea of customer service, whereas Continental, Delta and others, also dealing with high fuel prices, find a way to put a better product in the air.

I still remember the many flights I made years ago with AA between STL and DFW. Many times I would have the entire row to myself, plenty of leg room, I could flip up the arms on the seats and spread out. I even could flop my legs up on the seats to stretch out. Of course there was also plenty of overhead space for carry-on bags. I think that AA is trying to bring this era of flying back. What a great idea!

Another way to gouge the traveler. Paying a baggage charge is one way for the airlines to offset their payroll. If their are no checked baggage they can eliminate the crew that loads and unloads the baggage. Think of the savings, but also think of the money they would generate at 15 per first bag. The MD80 holds at least 140 passengers. Do the math? That money generated will more than offset a huge portion of payroll They are going to do layoffs because their is no demand for travel. It has nothing to do with St. Louis. American Airlines is just a greedy airline. Look at how they pay the officers of the company. If they really wanted to reduce their costs and be profitable, get rid of some of the people at the top. The consumers are the ones that lose. De-regulation was good for a while, but in the end it has caused some airlines to go by the wayside, caused a loss of services at some airports, and sometimes their is no alternative travel available once an airline reduces their schedule.

This is ridiculous! If they want $15 for check bags, then they should just add it to the price of the tickets. This is a significant hassle for business travelers like myself who will have to spend more money of less service!

Absolutely!! I will try and fly another airline. This is just ANOTHER fee they are charging. Lay people off, charge their customers more, and have the money line the pockets of the executives!! Good luck AA

Haaa, hang on let me get off the floor. Yeah I heard that Applebee’s is going to start charging for silverware used also. Lets see cramped seats, I am 6 ft 180lbs and can barely fit. Hmmmm no food, but hey they will sell ya some crappy sandwich or $3.00 for a .050 candy bar. Surly staff, that think they are the customer. American Airlines nice knowing ya, well maybe not. See ya don’t want to be ya, cause you wont last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m waiting to get a bill from the PD…for posting this one paragraph.If it works for AA, it certainly would work for the PD! Hmmm is that what the PD was thinking when they posted this topic? LOL

I’m a part time professional bowler, carry anywhere from four to six balls with me on tournament trips. Packing for us is a science, we actually use our multi-ball bags as luggage, use 2 balls + clothes to keep under the 50 lb. limit, and carry two on board over-the-shoulder.

Last May, bag 1 was .5 lb over. The American clerk sassily said “that’ll be 25 dollars.” For a 1/2 lb! Two years earlier on Southwest, I had one that was 1.5 lb. over, and they waived the fee.

Back to last year. I then get to Reno and find my bag dented. When I got back, I complained to American. The CSR supervisor basically wrote the clerk was right to charge me and just said “sorry” about the dent.

I wrote back and said for $25 about 8 oz., a clerk with an attitude and indifference from the company, that I’d no longer use American Airlines.

Next month I go to Albuquerque. American and Southwest fly there. I compared rates. It wasn’t close. Southwest won hands down. Even if it was the same price, I’d fly Southwest.

Consider this. Southwest has never had a fatal accident since being launched in 1971. And yet the FAA grounded their planes two months ago for safety, which I guess is ok, preventative maintenance is a good thing.

But when is America going to wake up and just tell American “NO MORE”. It’s CEO arrogance is legendary from Arpey back to Carty.

Accomodating passengers is not what American Airlines is all about. Accomodating profits is their main objective, not that any of their current managerial money-grubbers know much about it.

In any case, it will keep more women from flying. I can’t imagine my significant other flying someplace for a three-day stay without carrying enough clothes for a month. Maybe it will help the clothing business.

Well, AA has just created a major mess for themselves and their customers. If you thought people tried to pack the kitchen sink in the overhead bins before, you haven’t seen nothing, yet! You going to be surprised/shocked by how much carry-on people are going to try and squeeze onto their flights just to save the $15. I guarantee that LATE FLIGHTS will spike with all the waiting that will go on while people try to stow their their houses on-board the aircraft before the flights can take-off. But the worst will be the TSA screenings, which will come even more of a CRAWL while the TSA agents have to check a gazillion more carry-on bags due to this change. AA, you should have thought this one through before making such a bone-headed move as this! Instead, you just should have raised the base ticket fares to recover the $15 from everyone. But now, you’ve only made a bad situation worse.

It’s time to start thinking about going by train.

The last time I flew American it was a total nightmare. My flight from St. Louis was delayed 2 hours, then 10 minutes before we were supposed to board they delayed the flight another 2 hours. Again just a few minutes before boarding the flight was delayed another 3 hours! Once on the plane we were only offered peanuts! Nice. Then upon arrival at my destination (midnight arrival that should have been 5 PM) AA did nothing but lose my luggage. When I went to customer service they simply apologized for the confusion. UNFORTUNATELY for me…I had a presentation at 8:00 AM the next morning without any clothes, toiletries or the like! Again, AA did nothing once I explained my story to them. I tried and tried to get a hold of a manager to no avail. I received nothing other than peanuts and a short, curt apology….no discount off my next ticket, no toothpaste to get me thru the night, etc. My presentation was fine, although dressed in clothes that I wore the day before, but I sure did tell my story to everyone there!! Needless to say, I have not used AA since and never will. I agree with Charles Williams, GO SOUTHWEST!!!

In a fortress-hub city like St. Louis, the alternative to _this_ airline may not be an airline at all. Amtrak has direct service to 49 cities from St. Louis: Chicago, Dallas, all the way to Los Angeles. Do trains “work” for every trip? Of course not–there are no good connections from STL for travel to Seattle or Miami. But trains are a credible option for more trips than we think.

You may not have a choice to switch airlines to avoid the fees. History shows they let one or two airlines impose a fee, then the rest jump on board. Let’s face it, the american peoples will lockstep to anything nowadays. Bush and his minions have trained them well. I know some TSA folks and you wouldn’t believe the things folks still try to take on a plane. Three foot long swords, big old macho “the two boys hang low” guns, suitcases full of banned drugs, etc. I imagine there will no longer be room for my little carry on Mario weekend bag when I next fly. The airlines are about to fold. If our economy depends on airline travel to exist, we will be accepting stuff we never thought we would because the politicos can’t even get the radar systems safe. Start losing weight folks and make room for the bags! Not likely though since I just watched a news story about the Atlanta Braves offering unlimited (from the cheaper, less healthy menu)food and beer to attract people to games. Try unlimited beer at a music venue and see how long the cops let you stay open. Canada is looking better and better…see I left you cons a perfect opening to do your thing today!

Well, consider who you keep hiring for top decision positions…white males! Don’t you think excluding three quarters of your populations from top spots is why things aren’t running right in any area of your economy and business? I think there is a connection. The world thinks of america is a bunch of obese fatties smacking and jacking their lips and breeding like dogs waiting to take all from the rest if the world. You ain’t seen nothing yet! A new day for the world has arrived and you are no longer at the top of the heap. Deal with it… LMAO at the crazy selfish soft silly americans.

Are they trying to go out of business? I mean how can you justify charging that much money per bag and think that people are stupid enough to pay for it if they have a choice to fly another airline?
I sit here at night and listen to the evening news with my mouth dropped open at how everybody is trying to gouge the last penny out of us and justifying with such stupid reasons. American Airlines may as well sing their swan song with this one.

Forget luggage - what about oversize people? Fat people should be paying a surcharge to carry on their extra weight. My suitcase weighs less than the excess pounds on most travelers.

Isn’t this blog titles “TALK OF THE DAY” and not “The talk of yesterday”?

titleD…. that is.

” “The U.S. airline industry as it is constituted today was not built for $125- or $130-per-barrel oil,” Mr. Arpey said after the AMR annual shareholders meeting in Fort Worth. ”

Well I submit to you, Mr. Arpey, that it also wasn’t built for some tool to sit behind a desk firing people who live paycheck to paycheck, nickle and diming it’s passengers, while collecing a 21 percent compensation increase of 6.6 million dollars in 2007.

If anyone thinks they can just switch airlines to avoid the fee you are mistaken. I predict within 2 weeks ALL airlines (maybe not SW) will start charging for each bag. Airlines are usually in lockstep when it comes to raising or lowering fees. We’re talking about an oligopoly here, not pure competition. All airlines know the demand for air travel is pretty inelastic, i.e. people will pay almost any price to fly, so they are able to do this because people, especially business travelers, can’t or won’t use other alternatives.

Question: Do people really need to fly across country for the weekend jaunt just because they want to? Fine I say, pay the going rate or find other means.

I’ll ask this question - what is a fair price to pay for flying? I’ve asked the same question when it comes to the price of gas. What is a fair price? People only know what they USED to pay, but that for the most part does not represent it’s (gas and airline travel) real value.

I said it earlier here, they can charge any fee they want and I’d be happy. This way the casual traveler will be cleared out of the market and service for those who NEED to fly or can AFFORD to fly will improve. Don’t like it? Find another way or stay home.

Well, AA just lost another flier!!! There are many other choices. I really like Continental, they are big in the NY area. AA is digging a hole and I think this is not going to help them raise more $$$. People are going to stop flying with them, and honestly, I liked AA, but they are really screwing themselves over. I just hope the other major airlines seethis, anddon’t start charging that same fee!

Others will follow

http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080522-airline-baggage-fee

How are middle and lower class citizens suppose to survive in the world today??? AJ, you are a very lucky person and I’m glad you are happy to get rid of us “casual” travelers and maybe you have an amazing great paying job, which you probably don’t even have to work nearly as hard as us mid-class, working citizens, but why not have a little sympathy??? Obviously other airlines are going to follow along with American Airlines eventually. We aren’t going to have a choice but to pay or like AJ says find other means. Okay, so just because we can’t afford it we are expected to never travel. I guess that is fine with some of you, but it is SO WRONG. The economy is so bad right now and everything is so pricey I find myself wondering all the time–how do poor people survive today? It makes me extremely SAD There is noway that luggage increases the gas they use that much. (or “FAT” people) I am far from over-weight or poor, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking of others. Don’t say that what we pay or have paid in the past doesn’t represent it’s “real value”. Everything is already over-priced before they start to increase prices. Don’t act like any business’s top priority isn’t to make a large profit. Nobody or business cares about anyone but themselves. I’m glad to see all the caring people out there who’s answer to people not wanting to pay rediculous fees is to “stay home”! This world is already soooo BACKWARDS and I see where it comes from when people like that comment. It is scary so many ignorant people are out there. I am 29 years old and have weighed 115lbs. since Jr. High, but I feel the Krispy Creme comments are unnecessary and pretty brutal!!! You should be ashamed! I’m sure you aren’t any Prince charming yourself!!!

I won’t fly American. There is enough trouble in the cabin with people trying to store their luggage I will stick with Southwest and will fly less.

megglez,

Relax, you getting a bit emotional. My comments about people paying for what they weigh only mirrors those made before me. Don’t think that in the inner circles of airline board rooms that topic isn’t brought up and studied. In general, Americans are obese and have little self-control. Those facts cannot be disputed and as a result, costs for all of us have increased.

With regard to my “casual traveler” comment. Americans believe they should be able to go where they want, when they want for next to nothing. Fine, I’m all for that and I do it myself sometimes. However, there should be some cost associated with that ability. My comment stated that the current cost was too low in my opinion, and in the opinion of the airlines, they agree. That’s the reason for the price increases and the nickel and dime fees. Have you traveled on any airline recently? They are all the same. They have all tried to lower their prices to gain market share and as a result service suffered. Now they risk putting themselves out of business.

Ask yourself, why hasn’t the government rushed in to provide some relief if airline travel is so bad? They have not provided any relief the gas prices. Do you often wonder why? All they’ve done up to now is to question oil execs. The answer lies in how much tax revenue the government is taking in because of those high prices. How to you tell when a politician is lying? Their mouth is moving.

When I analyze the reasons people or businesses do certain things I do so not from a pessimistic or optimistic perspective, but from a realist perspective. That way emotion doesn’t cloud my thinking. Businesses are there to MAKE MONEY. That’s it. In doing so they provide a service or product that people want and they provide jobs people need. Once they are to the point where they are are no longer covering their costs, they exit the business. There is no emotion involved, that’s what they will do and they will do it every time. If you were in that position, that’s what you would do as well. You are lying if you say you wouldn’t.

As I am for the additional baggage fees, I am against a “Traveler’s Bill of Rights” Why? Because any fee the government places on a business, the business will just pass on the the consumer. People who are for a Bill of Rights must understand they are only increasing what they will pay to fly. As I mentioned, airlines are an oligopoly and the consumer will generally pay any price to fly if that’s what they want to do. The government and airlines know this. So to say “fine the airlines” or “institute windfall profits tax on the oil companies” you might as well say “make us pay more” It’s the same thing.

BTW, you didn’t answer my question. What is a fair price to pay for flying?

Here’s some advise for the future. Get all the eduction you can and don’t depend on the government to save you or provide anything beyond the minimums for you. As well, question everything and try to find out the reasons people do what they do.

Greed is god. greed is good?

What is these Airline problems? Ok I can see if you want to charge for the second baggage, but now charging for the first?
When you buy a ticket to a destination, it usually means you NEED to bring a luggage. Its not like you buy an airplane ticket and NOT use luggage.
Its ridiculous, and im so pissed I just bought my ticket from them (of course the cheapest at the time). But now add $30 to that price. How ironic, I picked the cheapest flight available at the time and now im spending just as much for a decent flight on the same day.