American Airlines to start charging $15 FOR THE 1st CHECKED BAG!

[marmar]

How long before oxygen-breathing and bathroom-usage fees are added? :shrug:



from AP via Yahoo!:



American to charge for 1st checked bag, Delta balks
By DAVID KOENIG, Associated Press Writer
31 minutes ago



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

But rival Delta doesn't plan 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.

The planned fee on the first checked bag immediately ran into resistance. 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 doesn't plan to match the $15 fee American announced.

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 $1.10, or 13.4 percent, to $7.10 after the announcement which came as its shareholders gathered for their annual meeting.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_bi_ge/american_airlines_reductions

[sharesunited]

1. This is a deceptive practice. It allows AA to show a lower ticket price.

It is no different than buying an item supposedly being sold at one price and being overcharged on shipping and handling.

[wtmusic]

15. Then you can go after them for not serving food

or any one of the other previously "free" amenities which have become extinct.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Great

As if people aren't dragging too much crap onto the plane already. And how is this going to work with the TSA liquid requirements: Have to pay to check the bag, but you've got a bottle of wine so you can't carry it through security.

:crazy:

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Yes, this is a flat out stupid idea.

I check my rollaboard because I can't stand the jockeying for bin space. If I had to pay a separate fee I'd drag it on board to help illustrate how foolish this policy is.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. You are allowed a limited number of carry-on bags with limited items you may have in them

because of Homeland Security. So you MUST have at least one bag you will need to check in unless you plan to buy a wardrobe upon landing, and leaving it behind when you return.

This so sucks.

[electropop]

4. Airtran is charging $50 to let you choose a coach seat.

This is nuts!

I'm glad their stock price tumbled. Passengers will simply go elsewhere and shareholders know it.

[high density]

12. I think AirTran's fee is $6 per trip to choose a seat unless you want the exit row

Their $20 fee for the exit row is still less than United and other carriers charge for similar upgrades.

http://www.airtran.com/help_seat_assignments.aspx

[electropop]

16. It's still a ripoff.

Since when did that become anything more than something you needed good timing for?

[Sancho]

5. How much do they charge if you want them to find it for you?

Since they likely won't leave on time; assuming you weren't bumped, and hoping that no parts fall off the plane while flying - good luck!

Flying is now on my list along with root canals and paying traffic tickets.


:grr:

[bluestateguy]

7. This will mean more yahoos bringing bigger bags into the cabin

thereby cluttering up the baggage bins in the cabin, and taking longer to get situated so the plane can take off.

[wtmusic]

14. Yup.

American's gone downhill ever since they took back their extra 4" legroom .

I switched back to United Economy Plus. If you're flying cross-country (and you're tall) it's worth much more than the $60 extra they charge.

[shanti]

18. jet blue

gives you a few different options of leg room with the accompanying extra price. so - if you are too late for the "cheap" seats with less leg room, you're stuck paying the higher fee.

[shanti]

17. nah, what they do now

and what happened to me on usair, is that my carryon was "too big" for the overhead, so it was checked into a special area (and given back) before and after entering the plane. not the usual check on. you still have to wait for it tho.:(

[trof]

8. Here ya go: No Frills Airlines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuwaCl5h92I&feature=related
:rofl:

[Subdivisions]

9. Too bad I'd never make it to the gate if I were to

show up to board a flight buck naked in order to reduce the cost of my flight.

[kestrel91316]

10. I am flying United from LAX to NOLA and back in July.

I hope they don't start doing the same thing - though the fare of only $400 had me pleasantly surprised. I figured by waiting 'til less than two months before the trip I was gonna have to pay at least $600 (really need to work on this life-long procrastination thing, lol).

I know United gets terrible marks, but I figure with a nonstop, how bad can they screw up??

[wtmusic]

11. "Those were the plane..."?

Should be, "them was the planes..."

:crazy:

[high density]

13. I hope other airlines do not follow this

Up the fares $15 if you need more revenue. The fuel "surcharge" is already up to something like $150 and they are constantly trying to blur what the real cost of a flight is.

I see no problem in charging for 2+ bags, but charging people for 1 bag is going to make the carry-on situation even worse than it already is.