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American Airlines now charging for FIRST checked bag!

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Date: 5/21/2008 6:56:48 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 5/21/2008 6:51:07 PM
Author: Elmorton
It doesn''t start til next month says NBC news...but I''m flying out for a girls'' weekend on the 28th and returning on the 1st. So crap...I have no problem with not checking my bags, but I have been lately because of the liquids deal- even with travel sizes, it''s easier to just check ''em.

Does anyone have a good link about the liquids restriction? I thought that I remembered that it includes powder makeup and lipstick..? Grrrrrr... wish I was flying Delta.
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No, it doesn''t include powder makeup and lipstick.

And unless you get searched or SAY you have the stuff, they never find it anyway. At the height of the ban, I never got caught bringing my full tube of toothpaste.
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I had my toothpaste confiscated last year, on a flight from San Diego to San Jose. Good thing they sale toothpaste in San Jose!
 
So ridiculous. I mean, AA is far from a dicount airline. I actually rarely check a bag so it won''t really affect me, but I still think it''s ridiculous. You''re flying across the country but you have to pay extra for taking stuff with you? It''s not a huge fee, but still...

I hate flying now...all the delays have gotten so much worse in the last year. I don''t think I''ve had an on time domestic flight in months and months. I''m flying a lot less for work now since I''m in school so I haven''t had to deal with it that much, thankfully.
 
Big deal. Why get wrapped up in what they''ve chosen to call it. They could just have easily slapped on more taxes or "fees" for the $15.

I travel constantly in my work and I never check my bags. This way at least I don''t have to pay more. Works for me
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Date: 5/21/2008 9:04:11 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Big deal. Why get wrapped up in what they''ve chosen to call it. They could just have easily slapped on more taxes or ''fees'' for the $15.


I travel constantly in my work and I never check my bags. This way at least I don''t have to pay more. Works for me
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I would actually prefer more taxes or fees, personally. I just think it''s ridiculous for people to have to pay for the privilege of bringing stuff with them on an airplane trip. There''s hardly ever any room in the overhead compartments as it is...I can''t imagine what it will be like now! Oh well, like you, I almost never check bags, so it won''t really affect me.
 
our DIRECT flight to Miami on AirTran which has been booked and paid for for 5 months just got changed to a LAYOVER in Atlanta...WTF???? I am so fed up with the airlines I''d be tempted to drive if gas wasn''t $4 a gallon
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Date: 5/21/2008 7:11:32 PM
Author: sumbride

TGal - I''m still interested in how the carry on thing is going to work for you now that you have Amelia. Do you have any trips planned with her soon? I admire your efforts but am wondering how you''re going to pull it off now.
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Oh trust me...I can manage. Just less stuff for me and more stuff for her. You should see how little I carry for her diaper bag, yet still have everything I need. I had initially bought a bigger bag but just downsized to something not much bigger than a large lunch sak.

I don''t have any domestic trips planned, but if I did, I''d just have my rollaboard and a diaperbag with her stuff. I believe you can bring on a stroller without extra charge but I''d have to check on that. We have an international trip planned later this year but we have to check in bags for that one because we bring Christmas presents (otherwise I''d just do carry on for that too as I have in the past). Plus Qantas doesn''t charge for check ins.

I just really carry little. I don''t have a lot of toiletries and normally bring one pair of shoes (if needed) and wear flip flops everywhere I go. I once packed for a weeklong winter trip to michigan followed by a week in warmer florida in the smallest of rollaboards.

Like I said, it''s kind of a skill that can be learned. 12 years of business travel and I have never checked in a bag. Travel forums are full of advice on how to pack light. It''s just really freeing.
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Date: 5/21/2008 11:44:05 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Date: 5/21/2008 7:11:32 PM
Author: sumbride

TGal - I''m still interested in how the carry on thing is going to work for you now that you have Amelia. Do you have any trips planned with her soon? I admire your efforts but am wondering how you''re going to pull it off now.
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Oh trust me...I can manage. Just less stuff for me and more stuff for her. You should see how little I carry for her diaper bag, yet still have everything I need. I had initially bought a bigger bag but just downsized to something not much bigger than a large lunch sak.

I don''t have any domestic trips planned, but if I did, I''d just have my rollaboard and a diaperbag with her stuff. I believe you can bring on a stroller without extra charge but I''d have to check on that. We have an international trip planned later this year but we have to check in bags for that one because we bring Christmas presents (otherwise I''d just do carry on for that too as I have in the past). Plus Qantas doesn''t charge for check ins.

I just really carry little. I don''t have a lot of toiletries and normally bring one pair of shoes (if needed) and wear flip flops everywhere I go. I once packed for a weeklong winter trip to michigan followed by a week in warmer florida in the smallest of rollaboards.

Like I said, it''s kind of a skill that can be learned. 12 years of business travel and I have never checked in a bag. Travel forums are full of advice on how to pack light. It''s just really freeing.
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For now at least, you can still do strollers and car seats for free. I wonder how long that will last?

I always tried to ship my Christmas presents to Texas rather than packing them, but I think this year may be giftcards instead.
 
Even Ryanair still allow a stroller/buggy/carset for free. I think they''d run into a legal battle if they attempted to charge for those (discriminating against infants?). Ryanair did attempt to charge anyone who need to use a wheelchair to get to the gate and that was struck down by the European Court of Justice. Same day Ryanair released a press statement that all fares were going up to pay for wheelchairs!
 
The airlines are all struggling with the cost of fuel on the rise. How else do you expect them to deal with the problem? If they raised prices, they would lose passengers to the competition. I think other major airlines will be following suit soon too. I guess I don''t think of it as a big deal. They have to stay in business one way or another.
 
I am just waiting for the day that airlines will charge us for our weight plus luggage. Something in the sense of arriving at the airport, having to stand on a scale with your luggage, and anyone over 200 pounds will get a weight-surcharge.
 
It''s not too long ago there were restrictions on the weight a lady could be when she applied to be cabin crew with Aer Lingus... I believe they still ask your weight on the application forms.

It actually wouldn''t surprise me if Ryanair introduced a passenger weight policy
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People will need to loose weight and pack light!!
 
cheap oil allowed the masses to travel....at one time it was merely the rich that were able to do so. it appears we are reverting back to that .......

can''t say as i blame them: they''re in business to make $.

i leave for mexico june 30.......another $15 isn''t going to kill me...... however, as airfares go up, i will be rather more selective regarding when/where i travel.

movie zombie
 
I have to agree that it is unfair that passengers have to pay for their first bag, particularly, as the OP said, they don''t allow liquids on carry-ons any longer!
 
I agree...if you travel, you need to bring stuff...it seems kind of simple. To charge you for bringing stuff seems crazy. Expecially since b/f this people were already fighting for overhead space. 2 weeks ago, I flew Delta and they were charging for the second bag. A couple who was going to check 4 bags ended up checking 2 and carried on the extra 2. So I already see this being a problem.
 
I wonder...how many of us think traveling via air is a RIGHT vs a PRIVILEGE? Airlines are a business whose aim is to make money...not transport us to see loved ones, do our business, etc, yes? No? Whaddaya think?
 
I think it''s a both a right and a privilege. We all have the right to fly, but then again, the impending crunch will make it available for only "privileged" folk. In the documentary "A Crude Awakening" that project that our grandchildrens grandchildren will never get to fly in a plane. The cost to fly in the future wil be prohibitive for most earthings to afford.

I say "Book ''em Dano" and do all the traveling you can as soon as you can. The situation is only going to get worse. We may be able to develop hybrid cars, but planes are a whole different story.

There are too many countries I still want to see, so I am planning it all now, while I can still afford to do so.
 
Date: 5/23/2008 12:53:24 AM
Author: miraclesrule
I think it's a both a right and a privilege. We all have the right to fly, but then again, the impending crunch will make it available for only 'privileged' folk. In the documentary 'A Crude Awakening' that project that our grandchildrens grandchildren will never get to fly in a plane. The cost to fly in the future wil be prohibitive for most earthings to afford.

I say 'Book 'em Dano' and do all the traveling you can as soon as you can. The situation is only going to get worse. We may be able to develop hybrid cars, but planes are a whole different story.

There are too many countries I still want to see, so I am planning it all now, while I can still afford to do so.
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Well, if we all have the right to fly...what about people who can't afford it. Do they have the right to get on a plane too?

Not picking on you...just playing devil's advocate and giving food for thought.

ETA and speaking of cost prohibitive...I have to book two tickets for Australia for Christmas. They are $2800 EACH. $5600 on plane tickets to be a sardine for 15 hours. Ick. And I was thinking of buying a seat for my baby, but not sure if I can swing it.
 
this is an example of oil affecting the airline industry, but they might price people out of traveling all together except those who go on business and get it paid for. It is an outrage, but airlines need to pay staff and maintain planes etc. Fuel costs are enormous so I guess they are trying to get money somehow...aside from raising ticket prices, which they have also done. (except US Air who never seems to have anyone working baggage even when 12 flights all come in at once during Christmas!)

This is crazy when if you book properly you can get the same seat for less. I booked a Boston to Philly flight on US last year for 69.00 each way, so $138.00 round trip. Two weeks later the same flights were $1200.00 round trip!
 
I guess I don''t feel like flying is a "right", but it is still painful to see it changing into pure privilege. While I recognize that I am definitely more privileged than some by my ability to have traveled so much already, being priced out of one of my favorite things just drives it all home that my generation, and those that follow, can certainly not expect to do better, or even as well as their parents. As technology improves, things are supposed to get cheaper and more widely available... says the prior conventional wisdom. That''s changing now as we cope with a new reality.

I do remember as a child not seeing my grandparents very often because they lived in California and I lived in Texas. My parents were starting a company and had no money, and my grandparents had no money. We saw them maybe every other year, but I don''t think it was that often, really. I''m not planning on having a family, but if I did I can''t imagine my parents only being able to see my child once every other year. I can''t imagine ME seeing them only once every other year. It felt like at one time the world was getting smaller, more accessible. Moving 1000 miles away wasn''t really a big deal. Now it feels like the opposite is happening. I don''t think we''re quite to covered wagon stage yet (and really, who could afford to feed the horses with the price of grain right now?) but we''re definitely focusing more on our immediate vicinity and trips just for the heck of it are no longer a reality for us. Sure, I''d love to go see my in-laws in Wisconsin, but, well, maybe next year. It''s just too far.

We used to spend all our extra cash on travel, now we''ll spend a lot more for a lot less. A new reality. It''s the adjustment process that is so painful.
 
Date: 5/23/2008 12:45:32 AM
Author: TravelingGal
I wonder...how many of us think traveling via air is a RIGHT vs a PRIVILEGE? Airlines are a business whose aim is to make money...not transport us to see loved ones, do our business, etc, yes? No? Whaddaya think?
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Huh? It''s neither.


It''s simply a choice and a service. You can walk, hitchhike, bus, train, drive, taxi, or fly. They just have different timeframes, costs, and risks. (I left out skateboards and horses for practicality, though the Amish get around with horses)
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Date: 5/23/2008 12:45:32 AM
Author: TravelingGal
I wonder...how many of us think traveling via air is a RIGHT vs a PRIVILEGE? Airlines are a business whose aim is to make money...not transport us to see loved ones, do our business, etc, yes? No? Whaddaya think?
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Privilege, certainly. I think it''s annoying but if it does come with a reduction in fares it all evens out. I think this is a stupid PR move though because the one things Americans seem to hate the most is FEES. People would MUCH rather be charged a flat rate for something than have to calculate a whole bunch of fees on top of a cheap flight to see what they really are paying. It''s all about transparency...
 
Yes Air Canada just announced that it will follow A.A and charge for first bag also.We will have to do lots of cruising no bags limit and no charge for any bags..
 
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