American to charge for FIRST checked bag.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I know that from a marketing standpoint it makes sense to have the prices low and all services be add-on. It still bugs me. I just want to know - up-front - how much it will cost to get me from point A to point B, and with my stuff. It's becoming like the phone company - they tell you a rate, and then your bill comes with all these mysterious fees that were never mentioned.

Oh, that's for sure. And honestly, the airlines would rather it be that way too. The last thing they want is more visibility into how much these things actually cost them because it means less flexibility to increase their margin without people noticing. But there's just no viable choice anymore.

We'll see how this works. One of the worst parts of air travel for me is waiting in line at the check-in desk. I've avoided this for years by utilizing all of the expedited check-in options made available to me. If I have to go up to a desk and wait while a clerk charges me for <$20 in surcharges, I'll be really annoyed. If I can pay at home, no problem.

Agreed. I ideally, they'll integrate the option into the check-in process and let you pay when you check in, whether it's online or at the self-serve kiosks in the airport.