OTP - Anyone traveling on American Airlines??? Check this out!!

American Airlines to charge for 1st checked bag


Hammered by rising fuel costs and facing a soft U.S. economy, American
Airlines will begin charging for a first checked bag and announced cuts
to its flight capacity.

AMR Corporation, the Fort Worth, Texas-based parent company of American
Airlines, said Wednesday it will start charging $15 US for a first
checked piece of luggage on June 15.

The airline said it will also raise fees for a variety of other
services, including reservation services, and shipping pets and
oversized bags.

The fees will apply on all of American's U.S. domestic routes, plus
flights to and from Canada and U.S. territories. Passengers paying for
full-fare tickets, those on other international routes and elite level
frequent flyers will be exempted from the new fees.

American said in April it will begin charging $25 US for a second
checked piece of luggage.

"The airline industry as it is constituted today was not built to
withstand oil prices at $125 a barrel, and certainly not when record
fuel expenses are coupled with a weak U.S. economy," said Gerard Arpey,
chair and CEO of AMR.

"Our company and industry simply cannot afford to sit by hoping for
industry and market conditions to improve.

AMR said it paid $665 million more for fuel in the first quarter than it
would have paid at prices from the same quarter of last year.

It said its first-quarter fuel expense increased by 45 per cent year
over year, while its total revenue increased by five per cent.

Delta Airlines quickly said it would not follow American's lead on
charging for a first checked bag.

I know the airlines are having a horrible time financially and the US air
market needs to restructure itself more reasonably, but this is really going
too far. This will cause HUE nightmares with folks trying to carry-on more
and more, just after we've had to reduce carry-on quantities to a reasonable
level.

Why can't they just be up front and increase airfares some? Or add a fuel
surcharge to pre-sold tickets, or jsut to future tickets, to adjust for the
increased costs from that source? Consumers know full well that fuel costs
have increased dramatically and that would be a realistic add-on. Charging
folks for taking ANY luggage with them on a trip is ridiculous - and I
usually manage to travel light!

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

On Wed, 21 May 2008 15:06:14 -0400, Carole wrote
(in message <69ja56F33uglfU1@mid.individual.net>):

>
> American Airlines to charge for 1st checked bag
>
>
> Hammered by rising fuel costs and facing a soft U.S. economy, American
> Airlines will begin charging for a first checked bag and announced cuts
> to its flight capacity.
>
> AMR Corporation, the Fort Worth, Texas-based parent company of American
> Airlines, said Wednesday it will start charging $15 US for a first
> checked piece of luggage on June 15.
>
> The airline said it will also raise fees for a variety of other
> services, including reservation services, and shipping pets and
> oversized bags.
>
> The fees will apply on all of American's U.S. domestic routes, plus
> flights to and from Canada and U.S. territories. Passengers paying for
> full-fare tickets, those on other international routes and elite level
> frequent flyers will be exempted from the new fees.
>
> American said in April it will begin charging $25 US for a second
> checked piece of luggage.
>
> "The airline industry as it is constituted today was not built to
> withstand oil prices at $125 a barrel, and certainly not when record
> fuel expenses are coupled with a weak U.S. economy," said Gerard Arpey,
> chair and CEO of AMR.
>
> "Our company and industry simply cannot afford to sit by hoping for
> industry and market conditions to improve.
>
> AMR said it paid $665 million more for fuel in the first quarter than it
> would have paid at prices from the same quarter of last year.
>
> It said its first-quarter fuel expense increased by 45 per cent year
> over year, while its total revenue increased by five per cent.
>
> Delta Airlines quickly said it would not follow American's lead on
> charging for a first checked bag.

Well, I called and they said since I bought my ticket in February it
wouldn't apply to me. But I'm still going to travel light and just use
my new Eagle Creek carry on, and then take my camera bag as my personal
item since my wallet fits in it and it's not that big.

I'm hoping they don't lop a fuel surcharge on to tickets already
purchased, as that might make me have to cancel my trip. I've budgeted
very carefully so that I'll have enough money saved to do this by October.

Carole



Nann Bell wrote:

> I know the airlines are having a horrible time financially and the US air
> market needs to restructure itself more reasonably, but this is really going
> too far. This will cause HUE nightmares with folks trying to carry-on more
> and more, just after we've had to reduce carry-on quantities to a reasonable
> level.
>
> Why can't they just be up front and increase airfares some? Or add a fuel
> surcharge to pre-sold tickets, or jsut to future tickets, to adjust for the
> increased costs from that source? Consumers know full well that fuel costs
> have increased dramatically and that would be a realistic add-on. Charging
> folks for taking ANY luggage with them on a trip is ridiculous - and I
> usually manage to travel light!
>

It's a weak economy because we're shipping our gold overseas by the
barrel, and our auto makers were not willing to get the message of
the
1973 oil embargo.
The U.S. is becoming a third-world country.

On May 21, 3:06 pm, Carole <TheNewCar...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> "The airline industry as it is constituted today was not built to
> withstand oil prices at $125 a barrel, and certainly not when record
> fuel expenses are coupled with a weak U.S. economy," said Gerard Arpey,
> chair and CEO of AMR.

On Fri, 30 May 2008 18:36:14 -0400, Carole wrote
(in message <6abdqtF36mf5rU2@mid.individual.net>):

> I'm hoping they don't lop a fuel surcharge on to tickets already
> purchased, as that might make me have to cancel my trip. I've budgeted
> very carefully so that I'll have enough money saved to do this by October.

yeah, i guess that really wouldn't be fair and would violate the terms of the
ticket sale. I'll just ask for fuel surcharges, or just higher fares, for
future tickets. It just makes a lot more sense to me than charging to check
even one bag! I suspect there will be a backlash against that policy. I
know I'm not considering AA for the family reunion next September!

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

> It's a weak economy because we're shipping our gold overseas by the
> barrel, and our auto makers were not willing to get the message of
> the
> 1973 oil embargo.
> The U.S. is becoming a third-world country.
>

and Socialism will finish what it takes to make us one. Oh,,, gnash your
teeth,,, pull your hair at someone saying that. Watch what is taking place
but will you actually "see" what is taking place,,, each to his own....

Harv

Nann Bell wrote:

> yeah, i guess that really wouldn't be fair and would violate the terms of the
> ticket sale. I'll just ask for fuel surcharges, or just higher fares, for
> future tickets. It just makes a lot more sense to me than charging to check
> even one bag! I suspect there will be a backlash against that policy. I
> know I'm not considering AA for the family reunion next September!
>

Well, I was originally booked on Delta, but without their advising
anyone, they stopped servicing Bellingham airport. I only found out when
I went online to check which seat I had selected for my flight, and my
reservation was no longer there!

The only airline available was AA, so I booked it. I take Horizon
airlines to Seattle, then AA from Seattle to NYC. I checked my ticket
info the other day, and to book now would be $40 more than when I booked
it so they are raising prices.

Carole