American to charge for checked bags

Azul says on May 21, 2008, 15:44:

....but I just read that it doesn't apply to people with international itineraries

las cosas caen por su propio peso

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 21, 2008, 15:52:

...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Azul says on May 21, 2008, 15:54:

Very good question....I guess I'll find out because I fly American a lot

las cosas caen por su propio peso

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 21, 2008, 16:00:

Not for international travel. Or for people with Gold and higher standing in their FF program.

But definitely a sign that things are bad at American.

All the airlines are looking for ways to squeeze more money out of flyers without raising the base cost of a ticket.

I actually don't care that much about this. Why SHOULDN'T they charge by weight or by the bag, when one person is often flying with a small carryon and the next person has two 50 pound bags? Weight in the plane = more fuel consumption = more costs.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 21, 2008, 16:04:

I wonder if the fee exemption applies only to the international leg of an itinerary or if any domestic legs are also exempt. I often fly American from IAH - MIA - BOG and would love to avoid the extra fee on the IAH - MIA leg.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

expatriate says on May 21, 2008, 16:13:

American Airlines already has the lowest consumer rating, and they want to merge with an airline with the second lowest consumer rating.
I suggest flying to Houston on Continental, and from there to your destination in the U.S.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 21, 2008, 16:16:

Continental's fares for Houston-Bogota are obscene and there are very few of the "cheap seats" available. Since there is only one flight a day to Bogota and they are the only carrier to fly to Colombia from Houston, they charge what they want. The absolute best deal I could find all summer was around $850.

Also, the BOG-IAH flight leaves Bogota at 8 or 9 am which means a really early start to the day. I live in Houston and the only time I take this flight is when I get it free with airmiles.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 21, 2008, 16:30:

CG, the domestic leg of a international flight like IAH-MIA-BOG is still considered "international" for the purposes of fees and baggage policies.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Atrevido says on May 21, 2008, 16:32:

8 or 9 early? The Cali -Miami American flight leaves at 7:30 am so you´re supposed to be on line at 5. I´m pretty grouchy when they wanna know who packed my bags and where they´ve been since etc.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 21, 2008, 16:38:

American is only the first to start this Baggage surcharge,others will shortly follow! How can they avoid not charging more for extra weight with Oil Prices closing at $133.90 today yet still stay in business. Watch for Airlines to stop allowing babies and small children free seats, but thats always been an unfair prctice subsidized by Single Passengers who foot the bill. With Weight based tickets, it will be a more fair and equitable pricing arrangement.

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Azul says on May 21, 2008, 16:47:

What about the weight of the passanger? Shouldn't my ticket be less than the guy sitting next to me that weighs 100lbs more?

las cosas caen por su propio peso

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on May 21, 2008, 16:51:

I believe that most airlines will shortly charge $25 or more for the second checked bag. I don't know if that will apply to international flights. My guess is that, sooner or later, it will.

Is weighing your carry-on next?

Hope they don't weigh me.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

larryrn says on May 21, 2008, 17:28:

Avianca started a fuel surcharge of $140 as of April. Note that this fare doesn't appear on the internet search engines like Sidestep and Cheaptickets so Avianca constantly comes up cheap --but when you try to book you see the note that these seats are not available. So American is coming up the least expensive on my next journey at 588 including taxes MIA-MDE. Avianca (which I would rather fly) is coming up another 150 above the American fare.

Larry

--- Larry Snyder - http://www.rn.org - Your Source for Online Nursing Education!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 21, 2008, 19:24:

150 above the American fare.

=======================================

Wow!

Azul--you should pay by your weight! weigh more, pay more! Its only the fair way!

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) says on May 21, 2008, 20:19:

MiamiMike - As far as I know, babies and toddlers only fly free up to two years of age and they have to sit in an adult's lap, so they're not really being subsidized by other passengers. Granted, the extra noise and extra luggage can be a big inconvenience to other passengers, but that's life.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 21, 2008, 20:37:

That's right, Tinto.

I actually recently had my carry on weighed by Virgin America and they tried to make me check it. I was furious, as it was my only bag and wasn't even that heavy or large. They claimed VA has a 16 pound carry on limit (which, if you read the fine print, they do.) All other airlines have a carry on limit around 30 pounds, and mostly only care about the size.

VA relented when I started walking away to buy a ticket on the United Flight leaving 45 minutes later.

Other than that one bad experience, though, I've been really happy with Virgin America.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 21, 2008, 20:44:

Granted, the extra noise and extra luggage can be a big inconvenience to other passengers, but that's life.
==================================================================

That may be life but its NOT fair to the single passenger. If what you say is true, then why can't a single passenger bring an extra carryon bag weighing say 10-15 pounds and place it on his Lap? Is it allowed?? Of course not! If a single flier wanys to bring his small Dog in a Travel cage and place it on his Lap, is it allowed?? Again, of course not. Unless its a ADA Seeing eye dog. And the Carryon luggage behaves, unlike an unruly crying complaining Kid who most passengers do NOT enjoy listening to.That's NOT my idea of life as a single person. And as a Paying airline customer, I have a right to peace and quiet on my trip,,,I disagree, I feel single passengers do subsidize these passengers with Kids.When the Mom makes demands in time for the well being of her Kid on the Flight Attendants as I have witnessed many times, , she (attendant)is not able to attend to the rest of the passengers. And we pay for that! Many times these Moms bring all kinds of extra bags with diapers, bottles, strollers aboard ect talking away valueable storage space for PAYING Customers. I for one will be glad when Airlines impose a weight based ticket then the parents will be paying for these Kiddies who now fly for free. Want to bet when this policy comes to be, you will see a lot less Kids(very young) on the planes???

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 21, 2008, 20:51:

Mike, with all due respect, the average "lap child" probably weighs 15 pounds. And the average lap they're sitting in is usually a mom's. So the total weight of mom and baby is most likely less than men like you or me weigh.

I totally sympathize with people who are bothered by having a kid sitting next to them in someone's lap because it's inevitable that the toddler will intrude on your space to some degree. I guarantee you, though, that if you asked the airline at check in to not be seated in a row with a lap child they'll honor your request.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 21, 2008, 20:58:

Hollywood, in the good old days they would do what you state but the last year or so, You(or at least myself) aren't always able to ask for and always receive a seat location of your choice,,,Again, if the average Lap Child weighs 15 pounds, why isn't a single passenger allowed to place an extra Carryon weighing the same on his lap? What is safer in case of an accident?

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 21, 2008, 21:00:

Because my kids are cuter than your carry on;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on May 22, 2008, 09:05:

My sister flew two years ago with my then 1 year-old niece and American charged them ½ the fare for the baby. Even though she was flying on her lap.

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on May 22, 2008, 09:12:

I have a question for those who may know. If I have to fly from Denver to Cali and the lowest fare I found was from Denver to Miami on American Airlines and then from Miami to Cali on Avianca. Will American transfer the suitcases to Avianca? Or do I have to pick them up at baggage claim and then check in at Avianca?

Thanks!

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 22, 2008, 09:17:

Diana,

Yes they will, in theory. I recently flew from Houston to Miami on AA and Miami to Bogota on Avianca. I was able to check my bags all the way through to Bogota because I had bought the tickets for both flights as part of a single itinerary. I don't think they will do it if you bought them separately. At least that is what the AA agent in Houston told me.

In my case however, my AA flight got into Miami super late. I almost missed my Avianca flight and AA didn't get my luggage transferred. They ended up forwarding it to me in Cartagena a few days later. Luckily, I always take a few changes of clothes in my carry on for just this type of situation.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on May 22, 2008, 09:21:

Nice! I've only flown on one airline and never had to deal with different ones.

So if I buy the flight on Orbitz, we should be good to go all the way from Denver to Cali and vice versa, is that right?

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 22, 2008, 09:26:

Yep. I bought the whole itinerary on Orbitz for that trip. Even though they were two different airlines, it was considered one itinerary, so they allowed me to check my bags through to Bogota. Assuming that your flight isn't horribly delayed, you should be fine.

Just keep in mind that you still have to check in with Avianca and get a boarding pass in Miami. You really need at least 2-3 hours between your scheduled arrival in Miami and your Avianca departure. There lies the main benefit of flying American the whole way. In that case, you can check in all the way to Bogota and only need about 45 minutes to an hour layover in Miami.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on May 22, 2008, 09:31:

Cool, I just checked again and there is a 2½ hour window in between flights in Miami going to Colombia and almost 5 coming back.

Oh but wait, they should all be in the same airport area, right? I think it's E. I think I saw AA and Avianca on there, oh well we'll figure it out.

Thanks CG!!!

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 22, 2008, 09:33:

2 1/2 hours seems like a lot, but it is actually a bit tight. The Avianca counter is very far from the American gates where you'll likely arrive. Be prepared to do some walking.

You should be fine, but I would definitely take some clothes in the carry on. I would have had a miserable few days in Cartagena otherwise.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rjstuff says on May 22, 2008, 09:56:

Hey Diana I have flown American/Avianca from Denver to Miami and then on to Bogota and then to Barranquilla. For departure you just need about half an hour - you have 2 hours too much. For arrival it depends on time spent in Immigration/Customs - so I like to have about 3 hours there but have done it in an hour or so each time. Don't worry about the distance between the American and Avaianca terminals - it doesn't take that long (you have to catch a fast train for the short last leg). I have done it twice.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo says on May 22, 2008, 10:01:

The reason to leave time is because of potential arrival delays and to allow time for your bags to be transferred. When you factor in the line at the Avianca counter and the security line, you would be insane to leave yourself a half hour. The last time, I had two and half hours scheduled layover between flights and made my Avianca flight by five minutes thanks to AA's delayed flight, long lines and the distance between the terminals.

In fact, when flying both legs on American, they won't let you schedule those flights with less than a 45 minute layover and there is no check in or security involved there. Clearly, you should leave more time when changing airlines. You have gotten incredibly lucky on those occasions.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) says on May 22, 2008, 10:10:

I was buying a ticket yesterday and was surprised to see Northwest scheduling a whopping 31 minutes between flights into and out of Detroit. A few drops of rain or the normal air traffic congestion can throw a monkey wrench into those plans.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on May 22, 2008, 13:40:

In 31 minutes you might make it, but your luggage will not.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on May 22, 2008, 14:18:

Thanks guys. I was mainly concerned about the luggage going from one airline to the next but I think 2½ hours in between going to Colombia and 5 coming back should be enough.

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 22, 2008, 14:22:

not need to worry here i will never flight AA again...
i think i am going to stick with Air France or Iberia or Virgin Atlantic but only if my connexion is with another airline different to AA

0 funny, 0 helpful.