Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I guess you aren't suppose to need to bring anything when you travel anymore... <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_bi_ge/american_airlines_reductions" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...ductions</a> It doesn't say if this rule will apply to flights bought before this was announced - I would call and check!
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 <<Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after May 12, 2008 but before June 15, 2008 may check one bag for free and check a second bag for $25 each way. Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after June 15, 2008 will be charged $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag. Our carry-on policy of one personal item (such as a purse or laptop bag) plus one bag remains in place.>> Hey, villains! I just went to their site and copied and pasted the story above. I've never carried luggage on to the plane before, b/c I hate how long it takes to get out of the seats while everyone is getting their bags from the overhead. Now, I'll have to! At least we bought out tix before May 12th.
Originally Posted By Ursula Well, that settles it. I'm never flying American Airlines again. Nor any other airline that charges for the first bag. I mean, it's dumb enough I have to pay for my second bag, but now to pay for two. That's just stupid. Of course the reason it is stupid is that people will now overload their carry-ons and cheat and do all they can to fit their luggage in the people compartment of the plane. How uncomfortable is that going to be?
Originally Posted By LacyBelle Wow! That bites! And to think that American was one of the last holdouts to charge for the second checked bag. We already have our air tickets to Orlando in January 2009 (free tickets using mileage). From the wording, since we ticketed prior to June 15, we should be exempt from the charge, but will print out the article on American's website to take with us to the terminal...just in case. I wonder how this will affect the WDW resort's airline check-in process. I just read a passage on the All Ears Net newsletter that WDW would no longer take a second bag at the resort airline check-in points, since there are fees for secondary checked bags. With American charging for all checked bags now (and likely other airlines will quickly follow), I wonder if this sirline check-in service will cease at WDW resorts. It sure was handy while it lasted. We're pretty loyal to American, so this is disturbing.
Originally Posted By LuLu Interesting. I can't say I blame the airlines for charging for anything and everything, as they're barely able to stay in business as it is (and many haven't!). I bet they get quite vigilant about carry-ons. I don't fly that much, but my experience on domestic flights has been that the cabin is pretty much full to capacity already. Any more carried on will cause a delay as bags will need to be checked before takeoff. I love carry-on (did I mention I went to Europe for 3 weeks with 1 carry-on bag?), so I hope they don't change any of the carry-on policies.
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Originally Posted By LuLu I don't think it's about being cheap. Carry-on is convenient. Yes, everyone has to wait while (almost everyone) gets their carry-ons down. But it's still a lot faster than waiting for checked bags. And lost luggage? Don't get me started. It seemed like it's be easier for our Europe flight to check 1 bag. They lost that bag in both directions. They can start charging for carry-ons now for all I care. With the fuel costs, it's all about the weight. Those that have luggage have to pay. We have to pay one way or another, the fair way is per bag, checked or not. Checked should cost more b/c it's more labor.
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki Well, this is just swell news for us. The three of us are set to depart on Iberia and American to L.A. in one month for a 2-month stay. Looks like we´re going to have to fork up some cash on the way out there because this isn´t going to be a "pack light trip". What´s worse is on the way back home which is when we take those weight limitations right to the last ounce permitted. With our luck before our return they´ll probably lower the weight limit again. The last time we went out there 2 years ago, the whole liquid bomb scare happened a week before we departed. They took away our toothpaste, deodorant, my mascara and my baby´s medicine... but that´s another story. (I´m just not quite over that whole episode and I spill it every chance I get!!) I just knew a little twist was going to be added to our trip again. You know, it´s been tough enough having to pay 4500$ for the 3 of us so that now we even have to pay for our baggage. It´s pretty depressing.
Originally Posted By mawnck Travel hint: UPS, USPS, FedEx. Their track records of losing luggage aren't nearly as bad as American Airlines.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle <<Well, this is just swell news for us. The three of us are set to depart on Iberia and American to L.A. in one month for a 2-month stay. Looks like we´re going to have to fork up some cash on the way out there because this isn´t going to be a "pack light trip". >> Fret not, tikiX4. According to the verbiage on the American site, as long as you were ticketed before June 15, there should not be a fee for the first bag per passenger. You might escape the fee this trip.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Here's what needs to happen: The airline industry and the luggage industry need to get together to design a standard sized carry on bag. The problem now is people tend to push the limits, so you stand there while someone pushes and crams their overstuffed "carry on" into the overhead bin, preventing people from getting to their seats. If there were standard-sized, official carry-ons, things would speed up both before take off and after arrival. The bag would fit modularly into the overhead bin or under the seat.
Originally Posted By X-san Well, ain't that a kick in the teeth. K2M, while your idea is a good one I wonder if it's feasible...so many people already own bags, and I'm sure many would complain it was a ploy for the airlines and luggage industries to screw the consumer etc... Not to mention that same sized bags would be more difficult to identify, leading to more luggage switching (and stealing) issues.
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ Domestic = within the United States, is this right? So (even though I bought my tickets before May, it wouldn't affect me) I shouldn't have to pay....but having said that, people can't overstuff their baggage, or as I found out last September when I was travelling with Alaska Airlines, they charge for overweight baggage. I believe I paid an additional $25.00 So it looks like 3 checked bags for us, and three carry-ons.... Hope that's enough!
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ OOps, lost my train of thought in the middle of that one. I'm coming from Canada, so that wouldn't affect me, correct?
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Rather than just raise fares, this is how American is dealing with increased fuel costs. Later on, they'll raise fares too because fuel will likely go up even more. If you want to avoid paying the increased costs, don't fly. At all. Any airline. Because this unfortunately is just the way it is from now on.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 I've always wondered why the Airline Industry gets subsidized by the Government, yet at the same time they make profits. It just seems kind of shady to me, and things like American Airlines charging for each bag just cements it IMO.
