Breaking American Airlines news for checked bags

[Coach P]

Well it seems AA is now going to charge for all checked bags. They are going to charge $15 for the first bag. How many others will follow?

Here is the link

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa080521_wz_aafees.1522e30e.html

 

[wdwfan100]

It looks like I won't be flying AA anytime soon.

 

[brich]

You'll be walking soon cuz soon they'll all follow suit... It'll be the new a la carte fairing that the industry will incorporate in the very near future.... As someone who works in the industry, we just had a sizable email debate on this very topic not long ago. The old travel model is no longer working as more and more carriers are struggling to make money.

If you have to pay for your baggage, this revenue will offset the added fuel burden your 50 pound bags add. If paying for baggage, you may be inclined to not pack as much. Baggage adds to the weight of the aircraft and also adds to fuel consumption. I know your all excited to hear about pending fuel surcharges.

I'm currently doing work for a large International carrier, in their baggage infrastructure, who is about to make similar changes. I believe 1 bag will be free but a surcharge will apply to the rest.

So good luck finding carriers in the future that don't apply to this new trend. Pretty soon when the low budget carriers are faced with the same burdens as the larger carriers, the playing field will level out and all will be playing by the same rules. What's left of them... :shrug:

 

[SpongeScott]

From the same article:

Delta doesn't plan to match American's fee for the first checked bag, airline spokeswoman Betsy Talton said.

Yet.

 

[brich]

From the same article:

Ya, how's Delta doing?

 

[wdwfan100]

Fly Southwest. The seem to be a leader and not a follower. So far anyway.

 

[maelstrom]

So they're charging you to check bags now, but you can't go all carry-on, because they're so restrictive with carry-ons (terrorist shampoo/lotion/soap and all...). Are they TRYING to encourage people to never fly?

 

[lpet11984]

So they're charging you to check bags now, but you can't go all carry-on, because they're so restrictive with carry-ons (terrorist shampoo/lotion/soap and all...). Are they TRYING to encourage people to never fly?

That's certainly what it seems like to me...I understand fuel is getting expensive and that the airlines are struggling, but starting to charge for *any* checked luggage seems to me that it would deter more people from flying and costing them more money in lost customers when all is said and done. They ought to at least allow one bag for free, imho.

 

[Rob562]

Here's my suggestion to the airlines:

Take a cue from the US Postal Service, modified slightly...

Charge by the WEIGHT of the bags... When mailing a large envelope, you pay an initial postage for the first ounce or two. Then you pay a reduced amount for each additional ounce.

With airline luggage, make that initial charge free (or say that the plane ticket includes it) Come up with some arbitrary weight that your average light-to-medium-weight suitcase weighs. On your first checked bag you get a free allowance up to that weight. Beyond that weight you pay xx per pound over with the maximum weight set at what it is now.
For second and third bags, charge them strictly by weight without the free allowance.

This would encourage people to pack lighter bags for their trips, especially if they can stay under that magic weight. And if you're a little over, it's only an extra dollar or two. And for those who push the limits of what their suitcase (and the luggage handlers' backs) can hold, they pay a premium. So luggage still remains "free" for those who plan ahead and are smart about it. The ones who actually add the extra weight to the plane pay for the extra gas necessary to haul that bag.

Taking the US Postal Service example a step farther, when you book your ticket you can pay a small fee up-front to pre-pay your luggage no matter what it weighs. That way you don't have to worry about how much you're packing. It's similar to the Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes at the USPS. Whether the box weighs 1 pound or 30 pounds, it's all the same fee. If you end up only packing a 10-pound suitcase, oh well, you made a poor choice. But it you pack 40 pounds, you come out ahead because the pre-pay fee is less than what a 40-pound bag would have cost you at check-in.

-Rob

 

[joanna71985]

JetBlue is doing something similar. They will be charging for second suitcases starting June 1st.

 

[Rob562]

JetBlue is doing something similar. They will be charging for second suitcases starting June 1st.

There are many airlines that jumped on the "fee for a 2nd checked bag" bandwagon. But this new American Airlines fee goes WAY beyond it, charging for ANY checked bags at all.

I'm fine with a 2nd bag fee, because I only travel with a single checked suitcase plus a backpack as a carry-on. But if AA keeps this new fee, I'll never fly them again.

-Rob

 

[imamouse]

There are many airlines that jumped on the "fee for a 2nd checked bag" bandwagon. But this new American Airlines fee goes WAY beyond it, charging for ANY checked bags at all.

I'm fine with a 2nd bag fee, because I only travel with a single checked suitcase plus a backpack as a carry-on. But if AA keeps this new fee, I'll never fly them again.

-Rob

Exactly!

 

[imamouse]

So they're charging you to check bags now, but you can't go all carry-on, because they're so restrictive with carry-ons (terrorist shampoo/lotion/soap and all...). Are they TRYING to encourage people to never fly?

Or are we supposed to travel with only the clothes on our backs? Seriously though, what about the folks who try to carry on, but all of the overheads are full. Will there be a fee for the luggage they have to check at the ramp?

 

[SnowWhiteMomma]

This is crazy to me. Just up your ticket prices. I have fees for this and fees for that... Give it to me straight...

 

[Rob562]

Seriously though, what about the folks who try to carry on, but all of the overheads are full. Will there be a fee for the luggage they have to check at the ramp?

The artcile on MSNBC.com today said that gate-checking because in-cabin storage is full would not pay the fee. (I'm envisioning a dramatic rise in gate-checked baggage next month...)

-Rob

 

[SnowWhiteMomma]

The artcile on MSNBC.com today said that gate-checking because in-cabin storage is full would not pay the fee. (I'm envisioning a dramatic rise in gate-checked baggage next month...)

-Rob

I have that same vision

 

[bayoumoon]

It's not just baggage that goes out on these planes. The company I work for ships cargo out on commercial aircraft. American is charging a flying customer for one bag about the same as a cargo shipment. Something is a miss there.

 

[Rob562]

It's not just baggage that goes out on these planes. The company I work for ships cargo out on commercial aircraft. American is charging a flying customer for one bag about the same as a cargo shipment. Something is a miss there.

Hmmm... I just checked American's cargo site (www.aacargo.com). To ship a package that's 26-50 pounds (your typical suitcase weight falls somewhere in there) from Boston to Orlando is $85.

-Rob

 

[bayoumoon]

Hmmm... I just checked American's cargo site (www.aacargo.com). To ship a package that's 26-50 pounds (your typical suitcase weight falls somewhere in there) from Boston to Orlando is $85.

-Rob

Just like the price of a ticket, cargo charges very. That would cost the company I work for about $35. And each airline charges differantly.