Americans baggage fee folly

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From the Los Angeles Times

Simply a back door price hike designed to drive the consumer nuts. Used to be a pillow and blanket were complimentary, so was the snack or meal along with drinks. Now you are simply nickled and dimed to death for everything. Seems to me that 25% of the time that I fly, the airlines lose my luggage. Why on earth would I want to pay extra for that?

Robin @ 9:59 AM PDT, May 24, 2008
Amen to this article. What AA is doing is dishonest and deceptive pricing. Rather than raise the price of a ticket up front so customers can easily choose which airline offers the best price & most value they are couting on the fact that most customers won't realize or remember that they are only paying for part of the trip when they buy the ticket. When they arrive at the airport to find that they have to pay the real rest of their fare it will be too late for them to go elsewhere. There is an answer. Don't buy a tkt on AA. Even when the other airlines match these fees punish AA for starting the trend.

John Jones @ 4:58 PM PDT, May 23, 2008
If the airline is going to resort to charging passengers fo rchecked luggage because it adds weight to the plane, can I be compensated with a lower ticket price because I only weigh 105 lbs, substantially below the average weight of all passengers? Just wondering.

Linda Curie @ 3:51 PM PDT, May 23, 2008
What I believe will happen next is that passengers will start stuffing everything they planned to bring into a carryon bag to avoid the fee. So, the plane will still be using fuel to carry the passengers with basically the same amount of luggage...only now the overhead bins will be even more jammed, and getting on and off the plane will take even longer than before. Don't penalize people for freeing up cabin space by checking baggage! and don't reward those annoying people who spend 10 minutes trying to stuff a huge bag with wheels into the bin while you wait.

erin otoole @ 12:21 PM PDT, May 23, 2008
Why is it that leftists and those who are shills for leftist media insist that customers are entitled to everything under the sun? If a customer thinks the new policy stinks, then there are alternatives. And to be really "fair" about it, the airlines should charge a fee based on the seat count, number of customer bags and the TOTAL weight of the customer plus baggage. Now that will get the fatasses hacked off and Congress to investigate "unfair" and "discriminatory" practices. Lastly, why does the author feel the need to drag Rush Limbaugh's name into all this?

tim tevens @ 12:06 PM PDT, May 23, 2008
Mr Ernst almost said it. With the overhead bins now stuffed to the gills, this policy will only increase the chaos. Why doesn't American charge $15 for each carry-on. Idiocy!

G. Hewitt @ 11:33 AM PDT, May 23, 2008
Clearly the writer has no knowledge or understanding of how the airline business works: especially of legacy carriers like American and United. A statement like "why doesn't American just raise the ticket price?" looks good coming from a novice, but not from a reporter. I strongly suggest the writer to do some research. As for the Crystler example, could someone please point out to the writer that its not Crystler who need to fill up their tanks, its the customers. I am sure American would be more than happy to buy more planes from Boeing if they came out and said: You pay $60 a barrel, and we will take care of the rest...

Optikal @ 11:28 AM PDT, May 23, 2008
I couldn't agree more. Smart businesses don't nickel and dime their customers. They have a business model that takes costs into account in usually a single fee. Think how Toyota and Honda packaged their cars ....with set additions for a set price. If I understand this new baggage fee correctly, American would not charge for luggage carried onto the plane, but if you check the small bag, you're charged. The bag weighs the same either way. This is really dumb! Airline travel has become necessary for businesses and the economy to grow. Let's go bak to regulating airlines.

Ilene Skinner @ 9:44 AM PDT, May 23, 2008
Each person or piece of equipment requires a certain amount of fuel to be transported. American Airlines recognizes this and has made a correct decision by incurring additional charges for additional weight. AA is a company that operates for profit. I would encourage all airlines to begin passing the cost of transporting luggage, by weight, to individual customers much like Federal express or UPS. This will save fuel since people will be less apt to bring unnecessary items when they travel,

Chris @ 9:11 AM PDT, May 23, 2008
I'm assuming that it's $15+$25, or $40 ONE WAY. Anybody going somewhere and not coming back? It's $80 round trip.

Laylah B @ 8:56 AM PDT, May 23, 2008
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