[Jewpac]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...7D39.DTL&tsp=1

To me, aside from being an absurd charge, this will do nothing but get more people to carry on their bags causing more clutter, longer wait times loading and unloading the planes at the gates and a much more difficult time for flight attendants who in addition to all of their other pre-flight duties will now have a multitude more bags to gate check.

[Papethova]

Also, caused the stock to tumble ~25%... could have paid off a 135 just by shorting that thing today.

[e49er81]

i wont be flying through them again! lol

[Jewpac]

Originally Posted by e49er81

i wont be flying through them again! lol

For a long time it was the only airline I flew, but if they will be instituting this policy, I will be flying other airlines.

[jeremyc74]

I won't fly with them if that's the case. We used them last week and they hit one of my guys $50 bucks because a bag was 4 lbs over the 50lb limit. That was bad enough, but charging for the first bag is BS, and I agree with the OP that it will just cause more clutter in the cabin with people trying to eek in just under the checked bag limit.

[Sherifftruman]

I guarantee they will be super tough on carry-on sizing now. I am sure they will make you put every single carry-on into the littel frame they have. Heck, they will probably make the thing smaller to make more money.

[imported_easyman]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

I won't fly with them if that's the case. We used them last week and they hit one of my guys $50 bucks because a bag was 4 lbs over the 50lb limit. That was bad enough, but charging for the first bag is BS, and I agree with the OP that it will just cause more clutter in the cabin with people trying to eek in just under the checked bag limit.

damn thats BS usually if you are a few lbs over they let you go. I bet its at the discretion of the ticket clerk and you caught one on a bad day.

The policy is only for domestic flights all over seas flights will still allow for free checked bags. I guess they are trying to go after the business traveler who is not going to check their bags.

[Jack in Jax]

This is most easily explained by the fact that American ran out of other ways to decrease their losses. They charge for meals, quote prices without tax/fees to look competitive, and have eliminated many flights (which is I think why their stock fell - fewer flights = less revenue). But this has to be the stupidest of ways to tackle a revenue problem for a national carrier that is moving customers thousands of miles.

Flew last week on Delta: 1 checked bag allowed without charge; only offered one sandwich choice on a 5 hour flight, for which they charged; mediocre service at best - and sadly, years ago this was my favorite airline

Flex last week on Continental: 1 checked bag no charge; meal service on 4 hour flight without charge; decent cabin crew service. The new Delta?

Jack

[mikeo]

The airline industry is in deep doo-doo. About the only time I'll fly anymore is to vacation out of the country, otherwise I prefer to drive.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by mikeo

The airline industry is in deep doo-doo. About the only time I'll fly anymore is to vacation out of the country, otherwise I prefer to drive.

For work I won't fly unless it's going to be more than a 7 hour drive. For me personally I'd rather drive 12 hours than fly.

[InsaneSkippy]

Damn that's a bunch of crap. Northwest allows for 2 checked bags with no charge. At least that's how it was the last time I flew them (less than a year ago).

[mikeo]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

For work I won't fly unless it's going to be more than a 7 hour drive. For me personally I'd rather drive 12 hours than fly.

Yes, flying has become a very unpleasant experience. I worked in airports for almost 20 years--thankfully well before 9/11.

[Kiety]

who needs a plane when you can drive your 1 cross the country, roadtrips are :w00t:

[backtoreality15]

I fly Southwest quite frequently anyways. They have never let me down. I love how if you cancel your flight, you get credit towards your next flight.

And student Rapid Rewards = a free roundtrip flight every 4 purchases flights. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

[Jewpac]

Originally Posted by Kiety

who needs a plane when you can drive your 1 cross the country, roadtrips are :w00t:

Anyplace you cannot get to in one days drive isnt worth driving to.