Bag Check Cha-Ching
It seems like traveling by air continues to cost more and more. First, the airlines pull the peanuts, then they charge for snacks and meals in coach. Most recently airlines implemented the second checked bag fee. American Airlines just announced the FIRST bag checked will cost you $15 each time it is checked. What will they think of next, pillow and blanket fees?
13 Comments to “Bag Check Cha-Ching”
Leave a Reply
Now it definitely makes more sense to carry your bag on board and spend the $15 to buy shampoo, lotions, etc. at your destination.
If AA wants to save more money, why don’t they look at the travel benefits they give their employees? I can see immediate family members getting free flights but I know a male flight attendant whose 45-year-old sister and teenage nephews still fly free.
So that’s $30 round trip for one checked bag. Any trip longer than 3 days pretty much requires a checked bag, so this will impact a lot of leisurely travellers this summer. It’s just a matter of time before the other airlines match this fee. I understand that $130 oil is the cause for this, but coupled with all of the other security restictions, flight delays, other fees, etc. it’s getting to the point where driving makes a lot more sense in certain instances.
Kersten, I’m pretty sure those extended family members must fly on standby. Therefore, it’s a negligible cost b/c the seats were going to be empty. I think that’s a benefit that the airlines probably have to retain in order to keep employees. For example, a non-veteran flight attendant makes a pretty paltry salary and they have a schedule that keeps them on the road quite often. Without the travel benefit, there are plenty of similar paying jobs that don’t require the odd schedule and time away from home.
They did mention certain AAdvantage customers may not incur the fees. I am Platinum and noticed I did not have the 2nd bag fee when flying home from Boston with a second bag. The unfortunate part is the leisure traveler who wants to take a family on a trip. A family of 4 must now plan for an expense of $120 if they check 4 bags.
Hey friend JB!
And, on the pillow and blanket note… my friend who works in the Corporate realm of American says, “Never use the blanket and pillows!!!” I was scared to ask why, ha ha ha!
I have a precious Peacock Alley travel pillow I lay my little head on.
Enough about that… any word on the Opening of the new Chik Fila??
You know, Margaret, I’ve had that same feeling about using the offered pillows and blankets. Something tells me that an airline in financial peril isn’t spending much money or time making sure what few pillows and blankets they have left are all that clean.
I only use the blankets when they are in bags. I recommend traveling with a pashmina that can work as a wrap or leg cover - much more clean! I can only imagine what a blue light would show on the pillows blankets and chairs.
The airlines really need to start using their heads. People already feels like they are getting ‘nickle and dimed’ to death since the airlines charge for so many petty things. Just figure out how much extra revenue you’ll earn per passenger, then increase the ticket price by that amount and blame it on rising fuel costs.
WCM is right on the money! I agree that more people would be upset by the bag cost than a ticket price increase due to “fuel” costs.
WCM’s point also applies to charing for valet parking at an expensive restaurant. That drives me nuts.
The bag fee is a bad idea all the way around. It will cause even more people to carry on even more. More carry ons will mean even slower security lines, slower boarding etc. I would prefer that they just hit everyone with a fuel surcharge. I also don’t understand why Southwest seems to be the only airline that puts a lot of expertise into buying fuel futures. It only makes sense.
A flight attendant friends also told me to stay away from the blankets and pillows.
I am glad that AA has finally begun to “Menu Price” our services. For far too long the American Public has viewed Air Transportation as a right and likened it to “Public Transportation”. People expect so much from us and are not willing to pay for any of it. They don’t want to pay for food in the price of their ticket, they complain about paying for food on board, yet they will pay $15.00 for a sandwich in the airport. The price of gasoline goes up so they drive less or buy a more fuel efficient car. The airline raises fees or fares and all of a sudden we are being unfair. Due to the increase in oil and fuel AA will spend more than 25% more on fuel than it budgeted or about $2BN. Profit last year was less than $650MM If the public believes that they can ship their first bag on FedEx or UPS for less than $15 with same day delivery i say give the business to FedEx, but i think not. The industry is shedding thousands of jobs this year and all the public can cry about is $15 extra to take their luggage on vacation. Ask those thousands of soon to be laid off airline employees what their vacation plans will be!
RE: Kersten @ May 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I can see immediate family members getting free flights but I know a male flight attendant whose 45-year-old sister and teenage nephews still fly free.
Kersten you are so misinformed. Only parents, spouses and dependent children get travel benefits. And it is not free, we pay too albeit a lot less than full fare. Some of us even pay income tax on the percieved value of the ticket, if our Domestic Partner flies. If there are no empty seats we don’t get to fly. Retail employees get discounts in the shops, automobile workers get discounted prices on cars, why shouldn’t airline employees get discounts.