American to begin charging for first checked bag

[Midnight Mike]

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

The nation's largest carrier said 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.

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_ ... reductions

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

I can't wait to see how much this will affect overhead bin space. :shock:

[MarkLawrence]

I can't wait to see how much this will affect overhead bin space. :shock:

And how strictly they are going to police carry on size/weights...that's going to be a mess!

[Ari707]

New fee list: Check bag $25, Aircraft entry fee $5, Seat cushion rental $2 per hour, Seat belt locking fee, $1, Overhead storage locker fee $10 per bag, underseat storage $5, Bathroom fee $1 if booked in advance on the internet, $2 on the plane. Flight Attendant courtesy fee $25 per attendant. Seatback tray table usage $3, Power cord conection fee $4 + .50 per hour of use.

and more to come as fuel prices climb higher

[T-Bird76]

They are charging for the first checked bag???? WOW....I'm shocked! There was recent report that AA may be forced into Chap 11 to reduce costs and that at current fuel prices they will run out of money by 09 if something doesn't change.

[RDU-JFK]

Whoa...

Tomcat is right...the overhead bins are going to be a mess...you're gonna have people bringing these huge rollaboard bags on trying to stuff them in...

I'm glad to see Delta hold out--I wonder if UA and CO will follow suit.

AA should cut beverage service (or limit it to only water) for all domestic flights before charging for the first checked bag...

[Midnight Mike]

Sheesh, what the hell is up with these airlines, raise the fares but, stop nickel & dime the customers, raise the fares & be done with it.

If people still want to travel, they will, if they feel the fares are toooo expensive, they won't.

If the aircraft yields start dipping, remove seats from the aircraft...

[mirrodie]

Well, that pretty much has made my mind up.

We got back from SXM this Sunday:

We flew AA. I have been flying AA since birth, over 30 years now and they have finally officially severed our relationship and that of my family's:

-we landed at 940PM,

-got the the gate baggage carousel by 1010PM, our son, the angel he is, slept through it all. He finally woke up near the baggage carousel in good spirits but exhausted.

-The baggage carousel did NOT EVEN START until 10:50PM and that was only to offload the connecting flights. The rest of the baggage came on at 1115PM and after waiting an additional 20 minutes, OURS was NOT even on the plane. WE finally left the airport at midnight after having to make a baggage claim. IT arrived yesterday.

-I fly made 2-4 times a year. So I am not a frequent traveler. Yet AA has manages to delay our luggage over 48 hrs now, a total of four times. After 3 times, I thought it was statistically impossible that could screw up with the luggage again.

We thought we'd try to make live easy for us, checking only one piece of luggage for all 3 of us and yet they managed to screw that up.

And now, I find it incredulous that they are going to attempt to charge me $15 bucks to screw up my luggage.


The only way I'll pay $15 is with a guarantee that my luggage traveled with us on the plane. Otherwise, so long AA. You've put food on many of my familie's plate, but have a ball in bankrupcy. You've earned it and managed to squeeze out whatever support and loyalty I held for you.

[T-Bird76]

The only way I'll pay $15 is with a guarantee that my luggage traveled with us on the plane. Otherwise, so long AA. You've put food on many of my familie's plate, but have a ball in bankrupcy. You've earned it and managed to squeeze out whatever support and loyalty I held for you.

I think that is a very good point...if your going to pay to check a bag it dam well better arrive when you land. I don't see AA keeping this policy...the backlash is going to be to great. I think given the choice ppl would rather pay for a soda or do without then pay for a checked bag.

[Matt Molnar]

Should be interesting to see what routes they cut. And after all that drama with the MD-80s, it seems that at least 75 of them will be heading for the desert.

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

The only way I'll pay $15 is with a guarantee that my luggage traveled with us on the plane. Otherwise, so long AA. You've put food on many of my familie's plate, but have a ball in bankrupcy. You've earned it and managed to squeeze out whatever support and loyalty I held for you.

I think that is a very good point...if your going to pay to check a bag it dam well better arrive when you land. I don't see AA keeping this policy...the backlash is going to be to great. I think given the choice ppl would rather pay for a soda or do without then pay for a checked bag.

I agree, if people are going to pay $15 to check a bag and it gets lost, then there will be hell to pay from the customers.
I think it is very close to stealing if the airline loses a piece of luggage after the traveler paid $15 to check it, unless the money was refunded due to the event.

[kc2aqg]

I agree with the customer service issue of paying for a bag that doesn't show up, there's no good side of that situation...It will be very interesting to see if the other major follow along, which I suspect they won't once they see the backlash that is already starting.

Mario - I can't believe I just read that you're done with AA. I thought the day would never come! Your story is unfortunately just one of the many that I have seen pop up recently evidencing the steady decline in reliability, customer service, and overall competence at AA.

Just another reason not to fly AA...I feel like when choosing among the majors, lately it's boiled down to who is the lesser of all of the evils...the industry is such a sad place these days...

[emshighway]

The former airline contracted ticket checkers will be at the front of the queue lines monitoring the types of carry on baggage going through. United already does it at LGA to make sure only one bag is carried.

[Matt Molnar]

Should be interesting to see what routes they cut. And after all that drama with the MD-80s, it seems that at least 75 of them will be heading for the desert.

Update: Not all of 'em will be Mad Dogs...

The majority of the aircraft American Airlines plans to ground will consist mostly of Boeing MD-80s and Airbus A300s. American will also ground 35 to 40 regional aircraft as well.

[T-Bird76]

Should be interesting to see what routes they cut. And after all that drama with the MD-80s, it seems that at least 75 of them will be heading for the desert.

Update: Not all of 'em will be Mad Dogs...

The majority of the aircraft American Airlines plans to ground will consist mostly of Boeing MD-80s and Airbus A300s. American will also ground 35 to 40 regional aircraft as well.

Some of the A300s leases are up so those prob will go back to the lessor. AA more then likely will declare chap 11 by the 4th quarter to reduce costs. They have a tremendous asset sheet that they can sell off if they need to raise cash such as Eagle, Advantage, MD80s, 777s, 767s, and 757s they can do a sale and lease back on, NRT slots, and idle JFK slots. All of these are said to be worth about a billion.

While we all including myself are shocked, this move will raise tons of capital AA needs and while the others say they won't match it...who knows, who knows if AA will even keep this around if its not matched. If it is kept in place the fact is, more then likely there will not be a mass exodus of customers. AA has some very talented managers running the company who to this point have done a pretty dam good job.

The price of fuel is simply destroying not only this industry but global commerce in general. Govt's can no longer sit back and let this happen.