AA to charge for FIRST checked in Bag
May 21, 2008, 12:53 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
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.
May 21, 2008, 12:57 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Los Altos, CA -- UA 1P / Priority Club Platinum Ambassador / Hyatt GP Platinum / Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 179
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.
May 21, 2008, 2:29 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
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.
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.
May 21, 2008, 2:49 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NY
Programs: AA, Hilton
Posts: 1,578
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?
May 21, 2008, 4:23 pm
#20
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May 21, 2008, 4:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: HYX
Programs: ~IHG(p)/BW~Nat'l.Exec~ ~NW(SE)~ ~Cessna~ NASM.do-07 ~AAAF.do-05/06/07/08/09
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As a user and stockholder in FedEx, I'm getting a kick out of these... ^
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May 21, 2008, 4:49 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL DM/MM, and major hotels
Posts: 501
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?
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?
May 21, 2008, 5:06 pm
#23
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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May 21, 2008, 5:16 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: fort worth, tx AA Gold,Best Western-Diamond, HH- Gold, Marriott-Silver
Posts: 2,737
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.
May 21, 2008, 5:20 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 740
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. 
May 21, 2008, 5:22 pm
#26
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,625
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.
May 21, 2008, 6:52 pm
#28
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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
Regards,
Gary
aka gleff
MilesBuzz moderator