American Airlines is charging for all checked bags now!

[remphish1]

How stupid! Everyone will want to bring on their lugage instead of checking it. I can imagine the delays this will cause! I hope no one else follows this! If they want the extra $15 why not build it into the ticket price!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American to charge for 1st checked bag, Delta balks By DAVID KOENIG, Associated Press Writer

39 minutes ago

 

 

 

American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.

 

But rival Delta doesn't plan to match American's fee for the first checked bag, a spokeswoman said.

 

American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.

 

Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.

 

The planned fee on the first checked bag immediately ran into resistance. Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline is considering all of its options in light of $130-a-barrel oil, but doesn't plan to match the $15 fee American announced.

 

American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter. American had previously expected fourth-quarter capacity to fall 4.6 percent from the same period in 2007.

 

Parent AMR Corp. said reduced flying will lead to an undisclosed number of job cuts at both American and its American Eagle subsidiary.

 

AMR expects to retire 45 to 50 planes from its fleet, most of them gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft. Those were the plane grounded for faulty wiring last month.

 

American said rising oil prices have increased its expected annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billion since the start of the year.

 

AMR shares tumbled $1.10, or 13.4 percent, to $7.10 after the announcement which came as its shareholders gathered for their annual meeting.

[bleedorange]

That certainly sucks. Living in Fort Worth, though, American gives me the most options and nonstop flights, making it harder to find the right flight on a different airline.

[Mrs. Peel]

I can't wait to see what people will try pass for carry on luggage now. Planes will be delayed because of people trying to shove their golf clubs in the overhead compartments.

[bigshoulders]

I can't wait to see what people will try pass for carry on luggage now. Planes will be delayed because of people trying to shove their golf clubs in the overhead compartments.

I've actually seen a blue-hair wheel one of those things up to the bloody security area, thinking she could take her clubs on the plane with her, only to be told she was going to have to check it. She was kinda pissed. Several of us in the queue were dumbfounded that someone would think that acceptable for carry-on.

 

kevin

[PigSooie]

Blows goats!!!!!!

[kimcatch22]

Oh Southwest, why won't you fly to Memphis?

[Mrs. Peel]

I *heart* Southwest. Even despite the possibility their planes may fall apart in midair. Where else do you get singing flight attendants?

[Sir Stewart]

I'm glad we cashed in our AA miles for the Residency.

[kimcatch22]

I *heart* Southwest. Even despite the possibility their planes may fall apart in midair. Where else do you get singing flight attendants?

I flew on American's inspection-evading MD-80s to/from the STL show last weekend. So really, not a whole lot better.

[Lammycat]

I flew Southwest last month and was surprised to see the general seating deal they're working. It actually worked out pretty well.

[Sir Stewart]

You worked out pretty well.

[Mrs. Peel]

I like that I don't have to sit on the floor in the A queue anymore, that's for sure. But some people don't know how to count or put themselves in the proper place in line. I just flew to FL this weekend and had to take a lady by the hand to show her where she was supposed to line up (she was trying to cut in front of me and I wasn't having that!!!) But their process has always made boarding go a LOT faster than other airlines. I love it.

[PigSooie]

Oh Hooter's Airlines, why won't you fly to Memphis?

 

 

Who knew?

[poppydawn]

What really pisses me off is I booked a flight to Detroit on American last month. For what date? June 22 - one week after they start charging.

[tugmoose]

It all comes back to a 65-year-old question: Is this trip really necessary? Because this is just the beginning. Our whole economy is based on the availability of cheap oil. Without it, almost everything changes, for good.

[VenusStopsTrain2]

They talked on the news locally last night about how last weeks Bike to Work week went so well..and with the gas prices going up they are thinking about trying to make the streets more bike/pedestrian friendly to encourage that more.

[poppydawn]

and with the gas prices going up they are thinking about trying to make the streets more bike/pedestrian friendly to encourage that more.

 

'bout damn time!

 

I'd love to be able to bike my kid to school next fall. It's just far enough to be a long walk for a 4-year-old, but not far enough to drive. I've been paying attention to the route and even though we live in quiet little neighborhood it's just not quite bike-friendly enough. I'm going to try to figure out alternate routes.

[Analogman]

I guess you guys don't have coal trucks there.

[poppydawn]

Not anymore.

[Analogman]

I see dudes and chicks riding bikes around here, mopeds even, - they must have some great insurance. I walk almost everywhere I go.

[Mrs. Peel]

I wish I had another way to get to work, but when you've got a 1/2 hour commute by car to another town, and you aren't in an area with good mass transit, you're pretty much stuck with the car. No one I work with even lives near me, so I can't car pool.

[VenusStopsTrain2]

I wish I had another way to get to work, but when you've got a 1/2 hour commute by car to another town, and you aren't in an area with good mass transit, you're pretty much stuck with the car. No one I work with even lives near me, so I can't car pool.

 

Yeah same here...I was getting a bit upset when they were talking on the news because they made it out like noone has a reason to drive to work...and it's like..unless they move Best Buy and John Deere out to one of my dad's fields i'm pretty sure 2 of us are still driving to town!

[tugmoose]

So now's the perfect time to introduce the new Camero! (Feels like they're trying a little too hard.)

[PigSooie]

So now's the perfect time to introduce the new Camero! (Feels like they're trying a little too hard.)

 

That thing is terrible!

[VenusStopsTrain2]

With gas prices rising..who is going to have $20 to 30 thou to throw away on that car? Love how they are considering holding off on the turbocharged engine because it might not be as feasible right now as originally planned.