American to charge for FIRST checked bag.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by katiesue

Wouldn't this be harder to do now that they have weight limits on the baggage as well?

Not really. It doesn't really change that dynamic from what it is now.

Now: You go online or go to the kiosk in the airport and check in. You say you're checking 1 bag. Once you've got your boarding pass, you go over to the counter where they put your bag on a scale. If it's under 50lbs, they put the tag on it and you're on your way. If it's over 50lbs, you pay your extra fee and you're, the put the tag on it and you're on your way.

With the $15 check fee: You go online or go to the kiosk in the airport and check in. You say you're checking 1 bag and pay $15. Once you've got your boarding pass, you go over to the counter where they put your bag on a scale. If it's under 50lbs, they put the tag on it and you're on your way. If it's over 50lbs, you pay your extra fee and you're, the put the tag on it and you're on your way.


And, actually, if you're at an in-airport kiosk that's got a scale attached to it, it can automatically charge you for any extra weight at the same time as it's charging you the $15. Which does sort of suck because most attendants will ignore it if it's only a couple lbs. over the weight limit while an automated system like that would be strict.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The interesting thing is that you (for now at least) have a choice. United (or some other airline) has pricing that includes luggage whereas American does not. You have the choice of not flying American.

It also means that I have to keep track of which airlines have additional fees and which don't. Of course, some will seek to differentiate themselves my marketing their lack of additional fees, which may make my job easier. For now, I add American to the list of Airlines I Will Not Use. (It joins United and US Air.).

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

And, actually, if you're at an in-airport kiosk that's got a scale attached to it, it can automatically charge you for any extra weight at the same time as it's charging you the $15. Which does sort of suck because most attendants will ignore it if it's only a couple lbs. over the weight limit while an automated system like that would be strict.

And Reagan National I had to remove the extra .5 lbs of stuff from the suitcase. I mean really. Over by .5? I've never had anyone waive the weight limit. No matter how close, I've always had to repack or cough up funds.

Of course, they also let me carry on 20oz of low quality ginger ale, as has already been discussed.

[Alex]

At least with United, when checking in online or at the kiosks there is already the ability to check luggage as well as the ability to handle payment for flight upgrades so I don't see why they wouldn't be able to handle accepting payments for checked bags (if they wanted to).

Continental has already said they won't be matching this move. If the other non-budget airlines do the same I expect American will back down.

[madmonkeygirl]

Well i only travel by air maybe once a year once every two years so for me it's not a big huge deal. Most of the time i travel by car. But i saw this coming. With the costs of gas and living and the economy it's not a shock. I don't make enough trips on an airplane to really matter. Hmmm maybe i should consider trying to find out how to get a ride on the band's plane instead no charges for baggage lmao..

[Moonliner]

Another telling point...

My wife typically makes several flights a month. On an American flight last Monday she was told her carry on was too heavy and would need to be checked. This was a first in all her years of travel using the same carry on.

Now it makes sense.

[Kevy Baby]

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.

The interesting thing is that you (for now at least) have a choice. United (or some other airline) has pricing that includes luggage whereas American does not. You have the choice of not flying American.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The interesting thing is that you (for now at least) have a choice. United (or some other airline) has pricing that includes luggage whereas American does not. You have the choice of not flying American.

Point A) Unless you booked tickets on American months ago for a flight to Orlando....

Point B) "For Now" being the key operative phrase in your comment.


Edited to add: In regards to point 'A': Oops! Never mind. I'm on United. Yea me.

[innerSpaceman]

But once this becomes industry standard, the entire point of not simply making it part of the airfare becomes moot.

Everyone who's not a complete idiot will simply figure in the $15 - $45 their bags will cost to each fare price quoted, and the competition for lowest fare will be back to Square One.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

But once this becomes industry standard, the entire point of not simply making it part of the airfare becomes moot.

Everyone who's not a complete idiot will simply figure in the $15 - $45 their bags will cost to each fare price quoted, and the competition for lowest fare will be back to Square One.

Point 'A' - Don't underestimate the number of complete idiots in the world.

Point 'B' - The cost of the first piece of luggage is already included so what they are doing is double billing you for the same bag. In time I expect they will just add it back into the price of the ticket, otherwise they will miss out on revenue every time a passenger does not check a bag. Assuming they don't start charging a "convenience" fee for each carry on bag.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Point 'B' - The cost of the first piece of luggage is already included so what they are doing is double billing you for the same bag. In time I expect they will just add it back into the price of the ticket, otherwise they will miss out on revenue every time a passenger does not check a bag. Assuming they don't start charging a "convenience" fee for each carry on bag.

If that were the case, they wouldn't be losing money.

The reality is, AA wants to raise ticket prices by a little less than $15 to compensate for rising costs. But doing so would hurt sales due to one-click buying tendencies. So instead of charging everyone a little less than $15, they're charging some people $15 at a different point in the transaction.

I don't really see the big deal. They need to raise prices. You will be paying more to fly because they need to make money. I don't particularly care how they do it, and, like Alex, kinda prefer the "pay for what you actually use" model.