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-   -   AA to charge for FIRST checked in Bag (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/826114-aa-charge-first-checked-bag.html)

mwarrior May 21, 2008 10:50 am

AA to charge for FIRST checked in Bag
 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/...nes_reductions


FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off possibly thousands of workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.

Rival Delta has no current plans to match American's fee for the first checked bag, a spokeswoman said.

American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.

Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.

Its proposed fee for a first checked bag would exempt people who belong to elite levels of its frequent flyer programs, those who bought full-fare tickets and those traveling overseas.

Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline is considering all of its options in light of $130-a-barrel oil, but has no plans "at this time" to match the $15 fee American announced.

Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey said he expects the new or raised fees will raise several hundred million dollars, but that was the best estimate he would give.

The changes were being made to adapt to "the current reality of slow economic growth and high oil prices," Arpey said. He said the fees are an effort to get customers to pay for services they want.

Arpey didn't put a figure on the layoffs, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands he said yes.

American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter. American had previously expected fourth-quarter capacity to fall 4.6 percent from the same period in 2007.

Parent AMR Corp. said reduced flying will lead to an undisclosed number of job cuts at both American and its American Eagle subsidiary.

AMR expects to retire 45 to 50 planes from its fleet, most of them gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft. Those were the plane grounded for faulty wiring last month.

American said rising oil prices have increased its expected annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billion since the start of the year.

AMR shares tumbled $1.42, or 17.2 percent, to $6.78 after the announcement which came as its shareholders gathered for their annual meeting. They sank to a 52-week low of $6.72 earlier in the session.

Any wonder why the stock dropped?? THat $15 is probably more than the difference between AA and another carrier. "Several hundred million"... that would be interesting.

mgckhpns May 21, 2008 11:01 am

Unbelievable
 
I MIGHT consider flying on an airline that charged for all the checked luggage if it were a Skybus, Ryan Air (you basically do now anyway) type with $30 fares, but not on a legacy airline with $200 fares to start, before you even add taxes, fees and fuel surcharges. I MIGHT consider flying on an airline that charged for all the checked luggage if it had not, in the last couple of times I have flown with them, missplaced either my or someone in my family's luggage. If you charge for a service, then it should be fulfilled. I think American Airlines has demonstrated, at least to me, that it cannot consistently deliver.

I challenge the compensation rules to apply once this fee is assessed since it is now a bought and paid for separate service.

All I can say is personally I am boycotting them, and any other airline that follows suit.

nsx May 21, 2008 11:04 am

WSJ article here.

Airlines believe that people are still making purchasing decisions based on the quoted price, without fully considering all the add-on fees, including change fees. People will eventually catch on, so this shell game is merely a delaying tactic, one that will alienate customers to boot.

When people wise up, they will start choosing airlines without junk fees even at a higher quoted price. I predict that a year from now the trend will be toward removal of these fees.

venice4504 May 21, 2008 11:06 am

I'm sorry but this is just stupid. So if I fly overseas, I get a bag checked free? What about if I have a business trip for over a week (suits included) to someplace? I have to pay to check my damn bag? I'm done. No more AA until they take this stupid rule away.

mwarrior May 21, 2008 11:21 am

venice: The 2bag limit still applies to international flights and for first class and Elites (for now). The one bag limit (or 0 bag with AA) is (for now) only domestic.

venice4504 May 21, 2008 11:23 am


Originally Posted by mwarrior (Post 9758189)
venice: The 2bag limit still applies to international flights and for first class and Elites (for now). The one bag limit (or 0 bag with AA) is (for now) only domestic.

I know. I read the article.

ttlax May 21, 2008 11:27 am

I bet they don't stick to this if no other airlines match it. To me, this is so ridiculous its like a fare hike the airlines try and then recend if nobody matches.

mwarrior May 21, 2008 11:30 am

Or its another way fo rthem to make it look like they give their Elites better service. "We will waive our $5-50 fee for the bags and phone booking for our elite members... but anybdoy else wants to travel, pay our fees or go somewhere else".

HunniB May 21, 2008 11:47 am

All that this new policy is going to do is to encourage more people to bring more stuff on board the plane itself. As if we don't already have enough problem with space in the overheads! As soon as people realize that they are going to have to pay to check it, they are going to decide to just carry it on. The flight attendants have got be feeling the AA love right now, I would say.

letterten May 21, 2008 11:47 am

This first bag charge is disgusting. They could have saved all that money by not printing up all the misleading "Your first bag is FREE" BS signs. I'm AA Lifetime Gold and AA Corporate is going to get an earful on this one.

wharvey May 21, 2008 11:48 am

Just imagine what this will do for the security lines....???

They are long enough as it is... now people will be trying to bring on more.... and more than 3 oz of liquids. Going to be a nightmare.

nsx May 21, 2008 12:02 pm


Originally Posted by wharvey (Post 9758367)
Just imagine what this will do for the security lines....??? They are long enough as it is... now people will be trying to bring on more.... and more than 3 oz of liquids.

Good point. Up to now, it's merely inconvenient to check a bag because of a small amount of liquid. If it costs money on top of that, people will be tempted simply to take low-value liquid items through screening and risk confiscation. I don't think the TSA will be happy about this, and it will indeed slow things down for everyone.

mlgagne May 21, 2008 12:29 pm

From AMR

2008 Capacity Reductions Q & A
5/21/2008

The current compensation program - while conservative when compared with the industry - is designed to retain this management team. Now more than ever we benefit from having a skilled, experienced leadership team.


should they be retained? Is the BOD's asleep?



Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash 2
Name 1 ($)

John W. Bachmann 37,000

David L. Boren 38,000

Edward A. Brennan 16,500

Armando M. Codina 37,000

Earl G. Graves 37,000

Ann M. Korologos 36,000

Michael A. Miles 36,000

Philip J. Purcell 38,000

Ray M. Robinson 37,000

Judith Rodin 36,000

Matthew K. Rose 38,000

Roger T. Staubach 36,000

I wonder if the BOD will have to pay the $15 fee? or AA employees?

sbwpchen May 21, 2008 12:31 pm

I think if you pay full-fare, the first bag is still free, so it should affect business travelers less.
Not saying this isn't a disgusting move

davidthomson May 21, 2008 12:45 pm

Absolute stupidity. No doubt about it. I hope the other airlines dont match this, then AA will just remove it as happens when one of the legacy's try a price hike.

Carolinian May 21, 2008 12:53 pm

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.

BillShepp May 21, 2008 12:57 pm

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.

DanTravels May 21, 2008 2:29 pm

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

the phoenix May 21, 2008 2:49 pm


Originally Posted by letterten (Post 9758360)
This first bag charge is disgusting. They could have saved all that money by not printing up all the misleading "Your first bag is FREE" BS signs. I'm AA Lifetime Gold and AA Corporate is going to get an earful on this one.

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:

DanTravels May 21, 2008 4:23 pm


Originally Posted by the phoenix (Post 9759420)
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 you know why I fly carry-on only. :p

CaveatEmpty May 21, 2008 4:41 pm

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

/.

mondo May 21, 2008 4:49 pm

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?

nsx May 21, 2008 5:06 pm


Originally Posted by mondo (Post 9760114)
What's next, pay toilets?

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

:D

wldtrvlr May 21, 2008 5:16 pm

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.

2mg May 21, 2008 5:20 pm

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. ;)

nsx May 21, 2008 5:22 pm


Originally Posted by wldtrvlr (Post 9760245)
I guess with practice the ticket agents will get faster, but I see nightmares ahead.

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.

fly2w May 21, 2008 6:10 pm


Originally Posted by CaveatEmpty (Post 9760067)
As a user and stockholder in FedEx, I'm getting a kick out of these... ^

/.

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.

gleff May 21, 2008 6:52 pm

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


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