American to charge for FIRST checked bag.

Moonliner · 05-21-2008, 08:14 AM

I saw this one coming...

First they make it hard to travel by air with just a carry-on due to limits on what you can carry. Now starting in June American will charge you $15 to check a bag.

Expect the other airlines to fall in line like domino's....

Capt Jack · 05-21-2008, 08:18 AM

I expect to see naked, empty handed people arriving at security check points soon

Stan4dSteph · 05-21-2008, 08:25 AM

Here's a link to the Reuters article.

I wonder if there will still be exceptions for international flights?

Gemini Cricket · 05-21-2008, 08:27 AM

Yikes. And I can't think of a better time to start something like this than now.

Do they realize that the economy tanked? So, for example, on top of a ticket that you could have paid $800 for (and the person next to you paid maybe $300 for) you have to pay for taking luggage on with you, too. Bleh! I didn't think the whole airport/flying experience could get any worse. But, most of the country won't care enough to say anything. They'll just follow along. Like cattle. Feelin' hopeless against a big corporation's shenanigans.

Morrigoon · 05-21-2008, 08:34 AM

With oil trading at $131/barrel right now they're doing anything and everything they can to remain profitable.

Crazybirdman · 05-21-2008, 08:40 AM

Well, that settles it, might as well drive to San Francisco when we go.

Not Afraid · 05-21-2008, 08:42 AM

Anyone seen that Bluefly commercial? We need to travel like that.

Alex · 05-21-2008, 08:46 AM

It has been more than a decade since I've checked a bag for a flight. I don't know why, except in certain unusual circumstances one ever would.

So I don't really care beyond the fact that it means the people who do check bags will try to cram that same amount of stuff into the overhead and under the seat in front of them (giving them less leg room so they spread their legs into my space).

There was someone on NPR last week (can't remember if it was local or national) talking about this phenomenon and put it in terms that makes a lot of sense (even if it isn't any less annoying).

It used to be that people were willing to pay extra for brand loyalty. But the internet age has almost completely broken the concept for airline loyalty outside of business travel.

Instead, the average consumer flyer goes to a web site where they are presented with a price list and then they choose almost exclusively on price.

Airline A --> $101
Airline B --> $121

Given that choice they always pick Airline A. Even though it is a no frills econoline that doesn't offer entertainment, food, assigned seating, etc. While Airline B does provide all of those things. But consumers don't care, they just want to see the lowest price on that screen. United/American/etc. can no longer compete with Southwest/etc. on service because the average buyer doesn't take service into account when making their choice.

So Airline B says ok, if all they care about is price, then we need to get that price down. So they cut services and charge for them. The net result is a price about the same as before but when you go to Travelocity it looks much cheaper. And, for some flyers (like me, who never checks a bag, doesn't sleep on planes, and really don't care if I'm fed on flights shorter than 8 hours) being able to opt out of services I didn't use is actually a boon.

The same thing has happened in hotels where people just go to Travelocity and pick the cheapest 2.5 star hotel in the town they're staying in. So hotels respond by adding all kinds of resort fees that aren't included in the Travelocity price just so they can appear competitive.

Morrigoon · 05-21-2008, 08:53 AM

Charge 'em for the lice
Extra for the mice
2% for looking in the mirror twice
Here a little slice, there a little cut
3% for sleeping with the window shut
When it comes to fixing prices
There are lots of tricks he knows
How it all increases
All in bits a pieces
Jesus it's amazing how it grows!

Ghoulish Delight · 05-21-2008, 08:55 AM

Yeah, I can't really get too upset about this one. They may be charging for the little services, but by doing so, they keep the face-price of the ticket from rising, so it ends up a wash, and you may even end up ahead if you forgo some of those services.

05-21-2008, 08:14 AM	#1
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	American to charge for FIRST checked bag. I saw this one coming... First they make it hard to travel by air with just a carry-on due to limits on what you can carry. Now starting in June American will charge you $15 to check a bag. Expect the other airlines to fall in line like domino's.... __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:18 AM	#2
Capt Jack check your head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,174	I expect to see naked, empty handed people arriving at security check points soon __________________ a clear conscience is a sure sign of a fuzzy memory
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:25 AM	#3
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Here's a link to the Reuters article. I wonder if there will still be exceptions for international flights?
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:27 AM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Yikes. And I can't think of a better time to start something like this than now. Do they realize that the economy tanked? So, for example, on top of a ticket that you could have paid $800 for (and the person next to you paid maybe $300 for) you have to pay for taking luggage on with you, too. Bleh! I didn't think the whole airport/flying experience could get any worse. But, most of the country won't care enough to say anything. They'll just follow along. Like cattle. Feelin' hopeless against a big corporation's shenanigans.
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:34 AM	#5
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	With oil trading at $131/barrel right now they're doing anything and everything they can to remain profitable. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:40 AM	#6
Crazybirdman Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 46	Well, that settles it, might as well drive to San Francisco when we go. __________________ www.backnextweek.com book travel, look at pictures
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:42 AM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Anyone seen that Bluefly commercial? We need to travel like that.
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:46 AM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	It has been more than a decade since I've checked a bag for a flight. I don't know why, except in certain unusual circumstances one ever would. So I don't really care beyond the fact that it means the people who do check bags will try to cram that same amount of stuff into the overhead and under the seat in front of them (giving them less leg room so they spread their legs into my space). There was someone on NPR last week (can't remember if it was local or national) talking about this phenomenon and put it in terms that makes a lot of sense (even if it isn't any less annoying). It used to be that people were willing to pay extra for brand loyalty. But the internet age has almost completely broken the concept for airline loyalty outside of business travel. Instead, the average consumer flyer goes to a web site where they are presented with a price list and then they choose almost exclusively on price. Airline A --> $101 Airline B --> $121 Given that choice they always pick Airline A. Even though it is a no frills econoline that doesn't offer entertainment, food, assigned seating, etc. While Airline B does provide all of those things. But consumers don't care, they just want to see the lowest price on that screen. United/American/etc. can no longer compete with Southwest/etc. on service because the average buyer doesn't take service into account when making their choice. So Airline B says ok, if all they care about is price, then we need to get that price down. So they cut services and charge for them. The net result is a price about the same as before but when you go to Travelocity it looks much cheaper. And, for some flyers (like me, who never checks a bag, doesn't sleep on planes, and really don't care if I'm fed on flights shorter than 8 hours) being able to opt out of services I didn't use is actually a boon. The same thing has happened in hotels where people just go to Travelocity and pick the cheapest 2.5 star hotel in the town they're staying in. So hotels respond by adding all kinds of resort fees that aren't included in the Travelocity price just so they can appear competitive.
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:53 AM	#9
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Charge 'em for the lice Extra for the mice 2% for looking in the mirror twice Here a little slice, there a little cut 3% for sleeping with the window shut When it comes to fixing prices There are lots of tricks he knows How it all increases All in bits a pieces Jesus it's amazing how it grows! __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
	Submit to Quotes

05-21-2008, 08:55 AM	#10
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Yeah, I can't really get too upset about this one. They may be charging for the little services, but by doing so, they keep the face-price of the ticket from rising, so it ends up a wash, and you may even end up ahead if you forgo some of those services. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes