When it's going to stop, American Airlines? (cost, Paris, comparison)

[Marcian]

American Airlines just made the announcement starting on June 15, 2008 there will be a $15 charge for the first checked in luggage, never mind $25 for the second one already in place.
American to charge for 1st checked bag, cut flights - Yahoo! News (broken link)

[imauie]

don't forget that the also increased all there fees:

Domestic Change Fee*
$150 – Check Fare Rules Display

International Change Fee*
$150 - $300 – Varies by market and fare

Ticketing Fees


Res Service Fee
$20

External Res Handling Fee – Itinerary Change
$20

Airport Service Fee
$30

Travel Center Fee
$30 – per PNR

AAdvantage Fees


AAdvantage Change Fee
$150

Res AAdvantage Service Fee
$20

AAdvantage Reinstatement Fee
$150

Baggage/Pet Fees


Oversize Bag Fee
$150

Checked Pet Fee
$150

Pet in Cabin Fee
$100

Other Value Added Service Fees


Unaccompanied Minor
$100

[Moonlady]

The sad thing is, the airlines are having to do this to cover the rising cost of fuel. But first off, they don't add it to the ticket price, which would be logical, right? No, they add fees so that the ticket price comparisons between airlines are "comparable". It used to be when you saw a ticket that said $248, the total price wasn't much more than that. Now, by the time you add up all the fees, the original price has gone up 25% or more. Secondly, when are all these fees going to end??? If fuel prices ever stabilize, you bet we'll still be stuck with all these absurd fees. Come to think of it, the whole airline pricing structure is just plane wrong (pun intended).

Anyway, my second point was going to be - how are they going to collect this fee? Do we have to pay at the counter when we check our bag? How terribly inconvenient!!

[katenik]

why don't they raise the ticket prices to whatever they need to be to cover their costs, and be done with it? those who can't afford to fly will use some other method of transportation or forego non-essential travel. all this nickel-and-diming is just making passengers resentful and hostile, and is sure to increase already high stress levels at airports.

[imauie]

They will collect fees when you checkin at the curb or kisok with your bag. They do it as fees because it is not taxed like there air fare is they make more money on fees than on airfares

David

[tonrob]

Oh great - the huge bags that people attempted to wedge into overhead bins as carry on were bad enough before - now it'll get ridiculous. When are they going to start policing that properly?

[tande1n5]

The problem is the extreme price competitiveness in the industry, as there are too many seats in the American market currently. The only thing the airlines have to entice customers is price. They have to look competitive on initial price, since that's what people go after, and they need all the business they can get. Saying "it's 150 bucks more but there will be no fees" often just won't cut it. it would be one thing if the market was at an equilibrium, but the surplus of seats combined with the high input costs make it so keeping the price at rock bottom is they only way butts will get in seats. It's not that the airlines exactly enjoy this either.

[katenik]

so, if i'm taking a long trip, i can check one bag with as much as i can stuff into it, exceed the weight limit by 3 pounds, and pay $15+$50. alternatively, i can check two bags of the same size, fill each just under the weight limit, and pay $15+$25. where is my incentive to check only one bag so AA can use less fuel?

[pushkinswife]

I am flying with AA next week and I am kinda apprehensive. I don't know what hidden fees to expect. I know the snack will no longer be complimentary and the charge for the extra bag... I plan to pack very lightly. Heck will they start charging for carry ons too in the future? I bet there will be some extra charge awaiting me somehow on this trip.

[samyn on the green]

Originally Posted by pushkinswife

I am flying with AA next week and I am kinda apprehensive. I don't know what hidden fees to expect. I know the snack will no longer be complimentary and the charge for the extra bag... I plan to pack very lightly. Heck will they start charging for carry ons too in the future? I bet there will be some extra charge awaiting me somehow on this trip.

There is a $15 posting about your trip on a message board fee. That will be due in full when you check in at the ticket counter.