I just saw this story in the news and found this article. It appears American Airlines is already charging $25 for a second bag checked but will now, as of June 15th, charge $15 for the first one as well. They are also planning on adding further fees to make up for high fuel costs, etc.

And so it goes...

This really stinks!! I would rather they just raised fares then nickled-and-dimed us this way. I realize they need to make money somehow, but this is just nuts.

Not to mention, it really seems counterproductive. Just when the "no liquid" rule was forcing more people to check bags instead of carrying on--which eased crowding and chaos on boarding etc--now everyone will be trying to get away with carry-on only (again.)

Also, it seems like it would be a retroactive tax for people who already purchased tickets under the assumption/understanding that they would get their included baggage allowance (like me We have tickets on American this summer for our Alaska trip--no way we can do that trip with carry-on only.

Now I am wondering...is the fee per trip segment, or per round-trip?? It would be really stinky if we had to pay both coming and going!

Okay, I found more info on AA's site. There are a lot of exceptions, and if you bought your ticket prior to June 15th it doesn't apply, so its not retroactive. That's good. Its also for domestic only. But, it is each way. Here's the exception list:

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/utility/baggageExceptions.jsp

I am curious about how these baggage fees work.

Do you actually do a financial transaction at the check-in counter? This must be very time consuming.

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Do you actually do a financial transaction at the check-in counter? This must be very time consuming.

I'll bet they take your credit card number when you check in online. But otherwise, it does seem that they'd have to charge you at the counter.

So -- more check-in hassles and delays and fights for the overhead bin space.

I guess the idea must be that they can keep their fares looking competitive when people do comparison shopping, if the baggage fee isn't added in to the price. But it sure would keep me from booking AA unless I had no other choice.

- Roz

This is crazy. We leave next week. From DFW to ny, I am only allowed one checked bag. On my euro carrier from NY to Bologna, I am allowed two, but the carry on can only be 11 lbs. Man...they will get you. I always carry my camera equipment, any jewelry I might bring (which is usually nothing of any extreme value, I just like!) and things like ipods, etc. This adds up to so much weight, I won't have enough weight for my purse! We are gone for 8 weeks, so I can't just have a backpack. I will plan on paying $25 for my "extra" second checked bag as it is cheaper than shipping items. Hassle factor. I guess I have to suffer through this for spending most of my summer in Italy! OK, worth it.

There are a lot of exceptions to this announced change, but it still smells like yesterday's fish. From what I read on another board, they will indeed be doing the charging at the check-in, which will, of course, add to even more delays there. What remains to be seen is how they will handle the inevitable mess when there will not be enough room in the overheads for all of the rollaboards - will they charge you in the aisle if you have to have a bag removed and gate checked?

I am grateful that our family vacation to Mexico on AA in August has been booked for months, and since it is abroad will also fall into another exempt category - there are eight of us traveling together, and I doubt we will all have carry on bags.

My mom arrived here after Usair (we like to call it Uselessair) changed their baggage policy to charging for the second bag. NOT sure if the policy changed after she booked, it was only 9 days prior, but they waived it for her. She's got the same 2 going home to the US next month. We'll see.

I do so agree. Nickel and diming is not nice. I am still reeling from the 72lb limit ending.

That's brilliant marketing! AA is going to charge us $15/bag -- so we're going to pay for them to lose our luggage! Pay $5 or whatever on the plane for a dried out sandwich -- so we're paying for heartburn. And $XXX to be squished into seats that are tiny and uncomfortable -- we we're paying to have blood clots form in our legs.

Why not stay home and watch Samantha Brown, Rick Steves, and the Globe Trekkers?

Yes, we all travel and we all hate the extra costs but the reality of it is a business move.

The airlines are in financial trouble.

Fuel costs are rising daily.

Here's their choice:
Keep everything the same and go out of business (not good for us if we want options to travel)

Charge for things that previously had been 'free' from the airline: drinks, snacks, checked bags, etc, etc. and stay in business.

They have to at least break even and the profit margins for the flights with fuel running crazy skyward (excuse the pun) they really don't have much of a choice other than raise airfares so high none of us will fly.

I don't like it either but I also understand their position from a business standpoint and I don't blame their moves at all.

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Originally posted by Karen:
My mom arrived here after Usair (we like to call it Uselessair)

Uselessair!!!!!! I love it! It's so true!!!!!

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Originally posted by SharonZ:
AA is going to charge us $15/bag -- so we're going to pay for them to lose our luggage!

That's a very good point! If they lose your luggage, do they refund you the $15?

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My mom arrived here after Usair (we like to call it Uselessair)

We used to call it US Scare!

My first trip to Guatemala last August was on Spirit Air. I got a crazy cheap airfare and had no problem at all with their $10 per checked bag charge (max 2). It was all made very clear when booking my ticket online and I knew fully well I was flying a no frills airline and so it all lined up. All good in my book.

That said, American is another story. Whilst I fully understand why they're doing this and sympathize greatly with all they are contending with these days, it pisses me off to no end that now more people will be overloading the plane with those bloody enormous "carry on" SUITCASES and making it harder for those of us who usually do check bags in to put our measly little actual carry on pieces in an overhead bin.

On my last Delta flight the flight attendant, who was snarky and rude, actually reached up and took my carry on, as well as the pieces belonging to the two people seated next to me, DOWN from the overhead area and literally shoved our stuff under the seats in front of us while telling us that we needed to" make room for those passengers traveling with roll on luggage." AS IF!!!!!!!

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Originally posted by teachick:
That said, American is another story. Whilst I fully understand why they're doing this and sympathize greatly with all they are contending with these days, it pisses me off to no end that now more people will be overloading the plane with those bloody enormous "carry on" SUITCASES and making it harder for those of us who usually do check bags in to put our measly little actual carry on pieces in an overhead bin.

I know!! This is so annoying to me and now it will just get worse. I usually just have a small carry-on and I feel that AA are not very good about checking people's luggage. I travel to Latin America with AA quite a bit, and because of the variety of goods and the prices in the US, people usually buy a lot of stuff when they are here - which means lots of luggage, and in turn lots of carry on. So an airline that already has issues with too much carry on will now make it even worse... I have been quite loyal to AA because of their good service to Lat America, but I am wondering if I need to switch my allegiance.

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Originally posted by teachick:
it pisses me off to no end that now more people will be overloading the plane with those bloody enormous "carry on" SUITCASES and making it harder for those of us who usually do check bags in to put our measly little actual carry on pieces in an overhead bin.

Agree!! This will only encourage others to push the "carry on" limits and create even more chaos and inconvenience during the already nasty boarding process. And why is it that it is always the guy who boards at the last minute who walks on with some enormous "carry on" and then procedes to try and shove it into the overhead right on top of your already safely stashed stuff? I would much rather have the airlines raise their prices to all.....oh wait; they've already done that.

I don't mind the charge; I understand the business behind it but I do think:
1) It should apply only to those people who purchased their tickets after the announcement. I think it's fraud, to tell someone who purchased their tickets before the announcement when they arrive at the airport that they'll now have to pay extra to check luggage.
2) I think it should absolutely be refunded if your luggage is lost or delayed.
3) When you check your bags at the kiosk, and you tell it how many bags you're checking, it should automatically charge your credit card (separate line for those paying cash)
4) Gate checks because there is not enough room on the plane for carryons should not be charged (you reap what you sow).
5)It better be in big bold letters when you buy your tickets and on your ticket, which acts as a contract, so they can't raise the price on you from booking to check-in.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

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Originally posted by Doug S & Judith G:
Here's their choice:
Keep everything the same and go out of business (not good for us if we want options to travel)

Charge for things that previously had been 'free' from the airline: drinks, snacks, checked bags, etc, etc. and stay in business.

Doug,
I sincerely doubt those are the ONLY choices.
Why not raise ticket prices to cover the costs instead of the nickle and dime stuff that POs people?
What has Jimmy Carter wrought when he signed the Airline Deregulation Act into law on October 24, 1978?

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Why not raise ticket prices to cover the costs instead of the nickle and dime stuff that POs people?
What has Jimmy Carter wrought when he signed the Airline Deregulation Act into law on October 24, 1978?

Exactly!!!!!! I agree totally!

Kim: You "GO" girl! All your points are right on! Barb Cabot

This made the headlines of the Seattle Times this morning. The article said that international passengers were not going to be charged.

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American said its new policy means customers who purchase economy-class tickets before June 15 may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25 each way. Customers who buy tickets on or after June 15 will be charged $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 for the second.

The fees won't apply to those traveling on full-fare coach or business-class tickets, international travelers and passengers who hold premium status in the frequent-flier program.

American said it would not charge to check a car seat or stroller if a parent is traveling with a child, but other baggage charges would apply.

I agree - this will be chaos at check in and on the plane. First they encourage us to check bags to get through security and now they want to charge us.