I think there are more circumstances causing harm. Consider a person travels on a reissued ticket with a higher allowance, but doesn't have written proof of that higher allowance and is charged a fee according to lower allowance from the original ticket. For example, passenger travels an AA-BA interline itinerary JFK-LHR-AMS-LHR-JFK, upgrades the transatlantic segments with a systemwide, and is charged a bag fee at AMS to check baggage that is permitted under the allowance of the LHR-JFK segment which in fact governs. Or AA check-in agents mistakenly apply a lower baggage allowance -- far from speculative since in fact that's what my friend was told (I believe incorrectly) when he called in to inquire. With good evidence of the actual allowance, right in the personalized eticket confirmation email, these disputes would be much less likely.

Consider also a person who brings less baggage than his actual baggage allowance permits due to concern about perhaps-limited allowance. With good evidence of the actual allowance, right in the email, passenger would have felt confident.

I suspect there are other situations at issue. My complaint asked that AA provide DOT with relevant consumer complaints. If AA did that, DOT could review the complaints to see if other passengers had found this problem (and if so in what circumstances and with what harms), and if AA was on notice about the problem and failed to correct it or request a waiver from DOT.


Ultimately the rule is what it is. AA could have sought an exemption or a waiver if had wanted to do so. Indeed carriers repeatedly sought various extensions to this requirement, ultimately denied by DOT which held that carriers had had enough time and should go ahead and comply.

I'm sure you're right, Jon, that AA will argue that this is a small matter and that most passengers aren't harmed that much. But the regulatory scheme is what it is, and passengers are entitled to this information on each and every eticket confirmation email. Personally I'd be happy to see a simpler system where baggage allowances don't require multiple pages of rules and exceptions, as well as complicated computer programs to apply the rules. Indeed, if AA wanted to move to a simpler system, the email disclosure could be as standard as the template-based footer at the bottom of every email. But having created this complexity, AA shouldn't be surprised or upset when there are some costs, including regulatory costs and perhaps also customer refunds, in operating it properly.