what would Amex say to You today, if you just got off a flight and your bags werent on it??

After all you really are paying for that carrier to transport both you and you belongings and they didnt fulfill their part, as they didnt transport your belongings properly. Whatever they would say today, Im afraid is the exact samething they will say if you paid the $25 fee for bag#2. If however you paid the $25 in order to insure that the bag goes where you go that would be different, but thats not the Carriers are gonna be charging the $25 for.