This fee is not nearly as bad as DL's new $200+ surcharge on TATL award tickets ex-EU. I would MUCH rather deal with the AA baggage charge than DL's rip-off surcharge. I hate checking luggage anyway and try to fly with just a carry-on.

Stunningly bad idea
 

This is a stunningly bad idea. One of the news reports said AA execs believe passengers will pack less as a result of this. For the second checked bag I might buy this. For a first bag, no way. It will also unquestionably create security hassles and huge carry-on space issues.

Incentive to become elite? Or disincentive?
 

If it doesn't apply to elites, that's great - for existing elites.

For Joe Sixpack who finds himself traveling a bit more than in the past and wants to earn elite status somewhere, though, is it going to be worth flying his first 25K miles carry-on only? Or will he just go with a different airline? I think I would, in that situation.

Of course, I almost always fly carry-on only as it is! I'm just going somewhere for a month, not moving there. :D

HOw can I get an address to write a hardcopy mail to AA corporate?

Just this sunday, flew back from SXM to wait 1 hour after landing for the luggage belt to start and then another 30 minutes to find they didn't even have my luggage and I got it two days later.

And now these fools want to charge us for the experience?:td::td:

And now you know why I fly carry-on only. :p

As a user and stockholder in FedEx, I'm getting a kick out of these... ^

/.

I wonder which genius came up with this one? A dinosaur manager from the 80's or a junior accountant looking for a promotion who has never flown?

In addition to the crazy security lines, the impact on turnaround time and delay has to be significant. How many times have you left on time when there was a full flight with people looking for overhead space? Forcing everyone to carry on will require more gate-checking...oh I'm sorry sir, we ran out of overhead space, there's no room left in the closet either, let me gate check that for you. (Will that be 15$ too?) Maybe you can shove it in the galley, it's not being used for food/drinks or anything else either.

What's next, pay toilets?

Quiet!!! Don't give them any more ideas!

:D

Delayed check in also!
 

Have you ever tried to buy or change a ticket with the counter agent? Imagine what the check in lines will be like when everyone checking a bag has to come up with $15. This is each direction also, not round trip like the ticket price. I guess with practice the ticket agents will get faster, but I see nightmares ahead.

But which airline will be first to...
 

start charging for lap infants? I'm waiting. My guess is the airline could get an easy $25 out the kids sitting in mom's (or dad's) lap during the flight. ;)

It's similar in nature to a manufacturer rebate: add costs for both consumer and producer in order to capture a benefit that is small compared to the costs incurred. Customers are smart enough to see that the exercise is a waste. They will eventually rebel. I predict that carriers will begin rescinding many of these junk fees starting a year or two from now.

On my last trip to China I sent my suitcase with Fedex as I was rushing to a meeting and did not want to wait for it come out.

While this is big news for the industry, it' has a pretty clear home in the American Airlines forum. It's generally best to keep these sort of discussions from fragmenting. I'll close it here and suggest that people drop into the burgeoning thread over in AAdvantage on the subject.

Regards,
Gary
aka gleff
MilesBuzz moderator