American to charge for FIRST checked bag.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

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.

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

[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.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

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

I'm not a lawyer (but I've played doctor many times in my life), but I would think that American would have to honor those tickets which were sold including the first piece of luggage (or whatever the rule was in effect at the time of purchase). They entered into a legally binding agreement by selling the ticket.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

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

Agreed. Although I wonder if this may become a point of differentiation between airlines. "Come fly with us as we don't charge you for the first piece of luggage."

But given the herd mentality of the airline industry, I don't hold much hope for this option.

[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.

[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.

[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 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.

Yes, but by that point a segment of flyers will be quite used to saving $15 by doing carryon only and would resent any move to change the system by increasing the price of their ticket just to pay for everyone else's baggage handling needs.