AA Charging Fees for Non-Travelers ("The Onion" humor)
Dec 1, 2008 | 8:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: St. Louis
Programs: AA PLAT 3.8mm, DL gold
Posts: 314
AA Charging Fees for Non-Travelers ("The Onion" humor)
FORT WORTH, TX—Cash-strapped American Airlines announced a new series of fees this week that will apply to all customers not currently flying, scheduled to fly, or even thinking about flying aboard the commercial carrier.
American Airlines has promised never to raise its fees for not printing a boarding pass.
The fees, the latest introduced by American Airlines in a continuing effort to combat its financial woes, will take effect on Monday. According to officials, the charges will include a $25 tax on citizens traveling with any other airline, as well as a mandatory $30 surcharge for passengers who decide to just stay home for the holidays instead.
"Tough times unfortunately mean tough measures," American Airlines president Gerard Arpey said. "It's never an easy decision to ask our loyal passengers, as well as thousands of people chosen at random out of a telephone book, to pay a little extra, but that's just the reality of today's economic climate. We hope all Americans will understand this when receiving one of our new bills in the mail next week."
© Copyright 2008 Onion Inc. All rights reserved.
<text deleted>
http://www.theonion.com/content/news...s_now_charging
American Airlines has promised never to raise its fees for not printing a boarding pass.
The fees, the latest introduced by American Airlines in a continuing effort to combat its financial woes, will take effect on Monday. According to officials, the charges will include a $25 tax on citizens traveling with any other airline, as well as a mandatory $30 surcharge for passengers who decide to just stay home for the holidays instead.
"Tough times unfortunately mean tough measures," American Airlines president Gerard Arpey said. "It's never an easy decision to ask our loyal passengers, as well as thousands of people chosen at random out of a telephone book, to pay a little extra, but that's just the reality of today's economic climate. We hope all Americans will understand this when receiving one of our new bills in the mail next week."
© Copyright 2008 Onion Inc. All rights reserved.
<text deleted>
http://www.theonion.com/content/news...s_now_charging
Last edited by JDiver; Dec 1, 2008 at 9:31 am Reason: reproducing entire copyrighted articles prohibited by FT TOS
Dec 1, 2008 | 8:41 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS, BA-Gold
Posts: 6,863
LOL
Great marketing ideas for southwest airlines commercials
Great marketing ideas for southwest airlines commercials
Dec 1, 2008 | 8:46 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
'tis a bit early for April Fools Day
Dec 1, 2008 | 8:51 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,347
In all seriousness, AA has become the proverbial crackhead that just begs for small amounts of cash whenever possible. I know times are tough but where does it end?
Dec 1, 2008 | 8:55 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Sure it is an amusing article, but the thread title is misleading. Considering the content of the article and the source (The Onion) there is no doubt that it is a joke.
Dec 1, 2008 | 9:01 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly AUS or rural England
Programs: BAEC redundant Bronze, AAdvantage Lifetime PLT, CO, WN, B6
Posts: 6,527
I'm not so sure - if cash strapped auto makers "will not be allowed to fail" (ie will receive public money), how long will it be before the airlines are in line behind them? Then we'll all be paying, whether we fly or not.
Dec 1, 2008 | 9:03 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,347
Dec 1, 2008 | 1:35 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NorCal
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott GLD, HH PLT, Hertz 5*
Posts: 766
American Airlines Now Charging Fees To Non-Passengers
Last edited by burtonmadness; Dec 1, 2008 at 1:36 pm Reason: typo
Dec 1, 2008 | 1:38 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,035
Dec 1, 2008 | 1:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NorCal
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott GLD, HH PLT, Hertz 5*
Posts: 766
DOH! Been travelling and the post had dropped off the bottom of my RSS feed...
BM
BM
Apr 12, 2010 | 10:09 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,449
American Airlines Now Charging Fees To Non-Passengers
Apr 12, 2010 | 10:15 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 36,849
Apr 12, 2010 | 1:57 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: AA Platinum/HHonors Diamond/Alaska Gold
Posts: 4
Don't Care How Old ... That's funny right there!
Seriously, how did I not see this the first time. This is on my list of posts to bump
Apr 12, 2010 | 2:47 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010