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!