American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag by June 15, 2009

[jashermd]

Hello,

Given that fares are also climbing in concert with these added charges (in other words, people are paying more and getting less and less) I have to wonder when the consumer revolt will occur. I know I won't be flying AA for any US flights any more -- time to use up my remaining AA miles!

Based on the introduction of other fees in the past, once these charges are introduced they're very unlikely to be revoked regardless of whether the price of oil drops. So if people don't like them, they'd best register their unhappiness now.

Cheers,
Julian

[lhbrown]

Hi jashermd,
Since your AA trips to the US originate abroad, from the looks of it, you would be exempt from the baggage charge. This would also be true if you used your ff miles to anywhere where AA or AA One World aliances fly. So you are safe for the time being. However, I agree, once the charges are instituted, and other airlines have followed suit, they will be here to stay. How do you suggest we as consumers protest.... not flying? Well, we can try to fly as little as possible, but... We can hardly stage a mass boycot/stike... so what options do we really have? write to the president of AA?

[jashermd]

Hello,

I normally don't use American (or any other US carrier) for international flights from the UK -- the only time I fly with them is if I need an internal flight in the US. The main reason I have a FF account with them is because BA's Executive Club is far and away the least generous FF programme out there, and because I could get mileage on internal flights in the US. I'll probably start another account with a different OneWorld partner.

Yes, I would write to the president of AA (and have done so). Then vote with your feet by flying with someone else -- and let AA know why you're flying with someone else. Obviously on some routes you may not have a choice, but the larger the number of people who complain about the charges the better. There's only one language airlines understand and it's the language of money -- if they believe that they are losing customers because of the policy they'll revisit it. Otherwise it will be here to stay, and as we have seen with the steady onward creep of other baggage charges the other airlines will follow suit.

Cheers,
Julian