So what happend to that "new boarding procedure" where golds didn't get to preboard?
When the overhead bins are crammed they going to now be forced to gate check their bags. They still won't get charged, but they also won't be able to have their bags with them.
Golds still board in Group 1. Plenty of OH bin space at that time. The WOBS doesn't really get nasty until about group 3...
I suspect the more likely consequence will be that AA recinds the policy just like fare increases that aren't matched by the competitors. AA is getting so much bad press on this that if the other legacy carriers don't go along AA will drop it. In the meantime, the other carriers are going to let AA roast alone on this before they (if they) institute the same policy.
Agree. If it's not rescinded due to the PR catastrophe, it may well be within a couple of days of implementation, when people arrive at the gate with a carry-on that doesn't fit, some GA says it needs to be checked, credit card swipes or some sort of PNR notation to send a bill eating up minutes at the kiosk, DYKWIA behaviors from late-arriving elites, clogs at security checkpoints due to toothpaste tubes in carry-ons, FAs having to double the time to get people seated and their bags stowed, etc. etc. As usual, this bonehead policy is going to default to enforcement by those employees who are the most hassled in the first place. Oy.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
I'll tell you what this $15 fee does do.. it separates the low-fare casual traveler from the business traveler. Tourists scanning websites looking for the cheapest fare will complain bitterly about the fee. Business travelers won't care because they either carry on or get their company to pay.
I believe that AA wants to be an airline for the business traveler. This is one more wedge.
I am a business traveler, but this does not seperate out AA from the rest, because everyone is effected by the chaos it will create, especially since the horrible md-80s the are the backbone of AA have so little overhead space compaired to more modern planes.
I'll tell a little story re AA. I was with TWA (and flew them on a full Y for about 150K miles per year for several years) and when AA took over and upgrades went away with no transition - and the TWA planes were flying with packed Y and empty F - I gave up on AA, and went to CO.
But for West Coast Flying I stayed with AS and have/had been their top level MVP Gold for years. Since I could get AS FF credit I would take AA to ORD from SFO. Yet everytime it was a mess. Why? Because dispite AS selling the ticket as a code share, AA would not recognize my status, and by the time I got on with my full fare Y - marked "group 4" - there was no overhead space. Sometimes the agents would cut me slack, but after a few of these experiences, and having to wait for my baggage and/or it not showing up, I just gave up.
I went back to UA. What this kind of move signals is that AAs management has no idea how to manage an airline. Short of giving the best upgrade scheme arround to EPs (better than what I get as a 1K on UA), it has old planes, a mangement with no drive to make a better airline, and crowded nasty hubs. Even UA looks progressive with this kind of pap.
With this change, my chances of every flying AA as a "Group 4" NO MATTER WHAT THE FARE IS is zippo. its not the fare - I just paid $2203 to UA to fly sfo-dtw rt - its the service the Business travelers expect.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gardyloo
Agree. If it's not rescinded due to the PR catastrophe, it may well be within a couple of days of implementation, when people arrive at the gate with a carry-on that doesn't fit, some GA says it needs to be checked, credit card swipes or some sort of PNR notation to send a bill eating up minutes at the kiosk, DYKWIA behaviors from late-arriving elites, clogs at security checkpoints due to toothpaste tubes in carry-ons, FAs having to double the time to get people seated and their bags stowed, etc. etc. As usual, this bonehead policy is going to default to enforcement by those employees who are the most hassled in the first place. Oy.
Realize, though, the actual implementation will be gradual over a period of weeks. The cutoff is June 15 for ticket purchase. So in the first week or two after that, you'll have a only very small number that bought their tickets late but still aren't paying full fare. That percentage will rise in the following weeks and months, but won't happen all at once.
Hopefully, this will give both the employees and the fliers time to adjust.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slpybear
The preassigned seating is enough for me... even if I didn't have any status. Why on earth would I want to factor in an extra hour or two to be at the gate early to stand in line for the cattle call.
Just to clarify one point--there hasn't been any mooing at WN for a few months. The seats aren't assigned, but the boarding order is. Everyone lines up in numerical order--usually the process is orderly and quick. I never get to the airport more than 30 minutes before departure, and almost always get bulkhead or an exit row.
We need to move the discussion from baggage charges to increasing the cost of an airline ticket. The sooner this happens the better.
Disagree. For those of us who take this as an opportunity to travel lighter, I'd much rather have the option to skip the bag checking altogether and, in turn, save $$ on the fare.
For others who don't want to change their behavior for the better (aka cheaper), regardless of the reasons, pay more.
Just as a social commentary--and sweeping generalization--it's about time someone started pushing back against apathy.
AA can get their fare increase as well. UA rasied fares up to $60, and looks like all of the legacy carriers will match.
Yup, and had AA just tacked on another $15 to the average fare or fuel surcharge they would have been able to raise just as much revenue without any of the uproar.
I suspect the more likely consequence will be that AA recinds the policy just like fare increases that aren't matched by the competitors. AA is getting so much bad press on this that if the other legacy carriers don't go along AA will drop it. In the meantime, the other carriers are going to let AA roast alone on this before they (if they) institute the same policy.
On the contrary, UA is "seriously considering it" which means very good chance UA will adopt it, followed almost instantly by USAir, then followed CO, and then DL and NW will have to determine whether they want to risk their "goodie two shoe" facade in front of the government (to avoid having the merger held up) and adopt it. Followed then by most lccs that don't already charge (Spirit and Allegiant Air have been charging for a checked bag). Basically the same flow as the $25 second bag.
The question and concern is can AA get the mindless ID checkers at Security to turn away people with multiple or oversize bags. Particularly at airports like JFK, MIA (particularly MIA), and SJU. Did AA management logically think this through and consult with the TSA. Either way it's going to happen and the check in agents, GAs, and FAs are as usual going to be left defenseless against the wolves.
For the elites, it will be a really good drama to see (other than the flight backing off the gate late and tight connections becoming endangered). Those elites sitting in F (a damn good place to be then) will get see the drama at the front of the plane when a GA is arguing with a pax that he/she must bring the body bag and/or second bag to the gate to check and pay $$ for paying.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newyorkgeorge
On the contrary, UA is "seriously considering it" which means very good chance UA will adopt it, followed almost instantly by USAir, then followed CO, and then DL and NW will have to determine whether they want to risk their "goodie two shoe" facade in front of the government (to avoid having the merger held up) and adopt it. Followed then by most lccs that don't already charge (Spirit and Allegiant Air have been charging for a checked bag). Basically the same flow as the $25 second bag.
The question and concern is can AA get the mindless ID checkers at Security to turn away people with multiple or oversize bags. Particularly at airports like JFK, MIA (particularly MIA), and SJU. Did AA management logically think this through and consult with the TSA. Either way it's going to happen and the check in agents, GAs, and FAs are as usual going to be left defenseless against the wolves.
For the elites, it will be a really good drama to see (other than the flight backing off the gate late and tight connections becoming endangered). Those elites sitting in F (a damn good place to be then) will get see the drama at the front of the plane when a GA is arguing with a pax that he/she must bring the body bag and/or second bag to the gate to check and pay $$ for paying.
Ya Know This TSA and security delay arguement is starting to get tedious. In my last million miles i've seen maybe 6 people go thru security without a carryon. Now magically theres gonna be a big problem??? People are creatures of habit, they will pay the 15 bucks and get on with life, or choose some other carrier. Thinking everyone is going to stop checking bags (that they normally do) and jam evrything into one rollaboard (which they normally carry also) is just plain silly
In my opinion, I'm not going to waste too much time getting lathered up about this "first bag fifteen dollars" issue quite yet - within some days, we will find out if other legacy carriers adopt this fee, or AA backs down because they won't. Isn't this the usual way it works? Someone slides a new increase or fee, it flies until the critical mass of carriers follows along - or the house of cards collapses until the next show time. We're more used to it being NW, but AA can play the game as well.
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Just to clarify one point--there hasn't been any mooing at WN for a few months. The seats aren't assigned, but the boarding order is. Everyone lines up in numerical order--usually the process is orderly and quick. I never get to the airport more than 30 minutes before departure, and almost always get bulkhead or an exit row.
Sorry, I just like to use that term... yes, I understand the new process of boarding order assigned by check in time. Or, guaranteeing a chance to be one of the first ones to board by purchasing Business Select.
No thanks,
It still means lining up and hoping my favorite seat is still there, or sweating checking in ASAP. to be one of the first ones in line.
I prefer AA where I can buy a ticket and pick out the exact seat I want (ER Ailse) without paying extra... (ER Ailse) and sit in F for free from time to time.
I'll tell you what this $15 fee does do.. it separates the low-fare casual traveler from the business traveler. Tourists scanning websites looking for the cheapest fare will complain bitterly about the fee. Business travelers won't care because they either carry on or get their company to pay.
I believe that AA wants to be an airline for the business traveler. This is one more wedge.
Business travelers WILL DEFINITELY CARE because this stupid fee will increase carryons, less onverhead space, longer wait times, etc.
