Comments on: American Puts Price Tag On Baggage Claim

Airline To Charge $15 For 1st Checked Bag, Cut Flights To Offset Crippling Fuel Prices

[ricknuber]

I have a close friend in the airline industry, and this move by AA was no surprise.

Most of AA''s fleet are aging MD80 aircraft. These are horribly fuel-inefficient and decaying. AA does not have the capitol to replace them, and cannot raise funds quickly enough to make a difference anyway.

AA will disappear, and soon. Even if AA had the funds to replace their entire fleet, the first installment of new aircraft would be at least a full year away from delivery.

We will have one or two domestic airlines to choose from, at most. United or Northwest.

[cascaisbear]

This will increase the number of people bringing over-sized bags into the cabin. It slows everything down when they refuse to believe it won''t fit. Why doesn''t the gate agent enforce the rule on the size of bags that can be brought on board.
Will the $15 result in improved and faster service when you land?

[randynason]

This won''t be enough to save AA. I prefer Delta, anyway. They have fewer crashes.

[barbaraf4]

Has there been any word on when the airlines will install the pay toilets?

[jerr11]

American''s a good airline, the best out there.

And $15 a bag is nothing these days.

So I say, go for it AA!

And good luck!

[boston1954]

Well...I''ve seen it all now. So glad I don''t fly anymore. I feel sorry for those that do.

[greeneyes222]

Bye, bye, American.

[incog-nito]

In other news, the airlines have announced that they will charge passengers for cabin air. The prospect of imminent death provides "a great incentive for customers to pay up", said one airline representative.

[dabsgram]

Well, fortunately for me my return flight on American Airlines in June gets me back home on June 12. I understand how bad fuel prices are, but if American and the other carriers would focus on excellent customer service, maybe they wouldn''t continue to lose so much business every year. I used to love flying, but it has gotten to be such a hassle that it sometimes seems that it is just not worth it. Now we find out that we will be charged for every piece of luggage. Time to rethink my travel plans for September.

[ms38654ob]

I wonder if they''re going to pay us when they lose our bags. AA does a dismal job of keeping track of the bags we check.

[acolton1]

Well I guess when Jet Fuel keeps going up and up just like Gas and Diesel. The airlines are trying to cut corners any place they can to save weight and people usually over pack for trips anyway, I know I use to over pack and not wear all the stuff I took on vacation. I guess with prices and Jet Fuel and all the extra fees everybody is tacking on Vacation at Home or in the State you Live in and going by Car to the Beach or Mountains or Amusement Park is looking better and better this summer. I would love to go to Vegas for 4 days.

[ictrep]

To rdchase -- no, they''ll just charge you $200 to find your *** luggage! LOL

[ictrep]

...and I agree with photogeezer -- people try to bring on carry-ons the size of a house, and they get away with it -- rule-abiding people get penalized by not getting to bring on their "regulation" bags!!! It sucks!!!

[rdchase]

So will this eliminate my luggage being lost?

[ictrep]

Unfortunately, hubby and I are leaving next week to go overseas -- on, you guessed it -- AMERICAN AIRLINES!!! (have had my tickets for 8 months) There is a list of people who are exempt from the charges -- what I want to know is WHO THE HELL ARE THEY GOING TO CHARGE?? -- the dang list exempts most of the dang world!!!

[rudy654-2009]

Everyone everywhere, REFUSE TO FLY AMERICAN AIRLINES. Since 9/11 and since our bailout of that worthless airlines, they have treated people like krap.

[photogeezer]

The public brought some of this on themselves. Families on vacation carrying all their toys, and foreign travelers trying to move their entire household have overloaded the system. A reasonable charge for checking more than one bag is OK with me, but not gouging for just one. This will only encourage the HUGE carry-ons that folks try to stuff overhead, causing rule-abiding passengers to hand over their small carry-ons when they have no place to put them.

[mexinvasion]

Renonv5:
Most people are in complete denial on the possibility of a Depression like what we had in the 1930''s. But everything is falling into place to create one. Too many just don''t have any money. Not a matter of things not being available. Just can''t afford them. Even for people who don''t have to buy gasoline, they are paying more for a gallon of milk or a pack of cheese slices. The existing number of jobs is going down, but the number of job seekers keeps going up. Consumers spend more than they make. The government makes promises it will not be able to keep. I keep telling everyone to learn how to grow some potatoes of your own. Best way to keep from starving.

[afmca]

The airlines are taking Bush Inc, up on their scheme to bankrupt middle class America before their term is up and Democrats look into the illegal collusion. The gas and energy price increases were planned for during Cheney''s off the record meeting during Bush''s first term. With Bush leaving and Cheney, etc. not caring who runs the country next, all the industry fat cats are under orders to make their money now. Since there are so many restrictions as to what can be carried on thanks to TSA amd Homeland Security, now you have to check a bag and now they gotcha for $15.

As for the nut cases supporting the airlines .. explain how a person going on a 2 week vacation can pack enough clothes to fit in an overhead compartment suitcase? I bought 3 tickets on American 2 months ago for a trip in July when there was no restrictions as to luggage. I assumed that my luggage was included in the price of the tickets I bought. Since those were the rules when I bought my ticket, then I should be exempted from the new rules .. but not in America where companies are allowed to retroactively charge for everything.

[mexinvasion]

American Airlines will make a great case study on how a company can destroy itself out of sheer spite. I won''t miss the grumpy employees.