American Airlines kick passengers in the nuts
By Darren Cronian on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

News that American Airlines will start to charge travellers a £30 ($15) surcharge for their first piece of luggage has caused outrage over in the United States, but it’s something that we have become accustomed to over here in Europe.

American Airlines kick passengers in the nuts

I am against any type of surcharge but I would not have a problem if the airlines guaranteed that a high percentage of this extra revenue will be used to help the environment, but let’s be honest, not a penny will go to dealing with climate change.

Why have American Airlines started to charge a luggage surcharge.

It cannot be the increase in the price of oil right – because that would be a fuel surcharge. There’s no mention that the revenue generated will be used to improve services, or help the environment, so I am baffled why they have suddenly come to this decision.

I’m led to believe that the surcharge will not affect business class flights, yet those that who cannot afford the surcharges being enforced by airlines are the ones affected the most. Why is it that airlines inflict these charges on those on lower incomes, it’s not fair.

Travel troubleshooter Christopher Elliott comments:

In other words, the very passengers who can least afford to pay the extra $15 — families with children, budget travelers and working Americans — are being socked with this surcharge. Meanwhile, those who have the money are getting a pass.

Good points Chris.

Fellow travel addict Beth Whitman comments:

Please. Don’t nickel and dime me, AA. Raise your fares by $15 or $30, but please don’t start adding surcharges so as to appear that you aren’t increasing your rates. I would say that you insult my intelligence but I’m too smart to fly you anymore.

Nice rant Beth.

Unfortunately, it only takes one airline to set a trend and other airlines will quickly follow suit. and the only way you can show airlines that consumers are not here to be messed around is either vote with your feet and not fly with them or think about what you really need to take with you and travel light.

Another kick in the nuts for airline passengers.


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11 responses to “American Airlines kick passengers in the nuts”

Nomadic Matt | 22 May, 2008 at 6:31 pm

Darren,

You title couldn’t have said it any better!!!

ps- thanks for the Facebook add!

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Dwane | 22 May, 2008 at 6:58 pm

I am based out of the Dallas, Texas area and travel about 3 weeks out of the month (exclusively with AA). Yesterday, upon hearing the news, I sat down and wrote AA an email to Customer Service (now my name will be flagged and the “give him the cattle car treatment” moniker will be placed under my name) basically commenting on their newest $15 (one way) checked baggage charge will be the last straw that broke this camels back and I would be finding a different airline to place my loyalty with when I depart and arrive at DFW (Southwest Airlines or Delta Air Lines).

The public here in the US are extremely tired of being nickeled and dimed to death and asked now that I have to pay $30 (R/T) to have a checked bag travel with my to my destinations (not always), what will be next? Pay Lavatories on all flights?

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Garri | 22 May, 2008 at 7:22 pm

@ Darren

Where are female passengers getting kicked then ? ;-)

It may not be fair but AA is a profit making machine with shareholders to think about, I’m not sure it’s their obligation to help lower income families by not inflicting these charges on them. They’re in it to make money.

If you want to rant about inflicting charges on lower income families then let’s talk about the UK government and their taxation policies. New Labour? No Labour!

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Jeff | 22 May, 2008 at 7:25 pm

Hi Darren,

First time I’ve commented on your site. I too wrote about the fee on my site, with with a different twist.

We are living in an era of menu-driven pricing and this is an example. We find little perceived value, however, in these fees. what is the psychological impact of these charges vs. straight price increases as it impacts consumer buying decisions. Perhaps some airline industry marketing types have this figured out. I’m not sure. Or, are these the same gurus who thought we’d have $50 a barrel oil right now.

Aloha, jeff

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diane | 23 May, 2008 at 1:10 am

I ead an interesting article a few weeks ago that the holds of the planes are used for flying fresh flowers and thats where they make their money !! Thats why they had the limits inplace. we get 1 bag, they can take more fresh flowers. Flowers are a multi billion $$ business. Our over night bag isnt !!

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Dean Oliver | 23 May, 2008 at 11:25 am

Darren
I have made comments before about how people are now coming to believe that airline travel should always be cheap. The Ryanair 1penny flights are a great example. It’s a marketing message that we have all brought into.
If every seat on the plane was 1p, Ryanair would not make any money on the flight, so their business model says that we will charge you for everything extra on the top. You want to take a bag – £8 – checkin at the airport £4 etc. In the end the cheap seats are subsidised by the extras and the late bookers.
But does the bag really cost £8 to fly in the hold – I doubt it.
Not if you can fly a person for 1penny.
And we are seeing it more and more. At my local Starbucks if you want to eat a cake on a plate they charge you 20p more than if you take out- but does it really cost them 20p to wash that plate ?
The problem with AA is that they should have just out and said “look this is what we need to do to remain profitable…”

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Angelina | 23 May, 2008 at 6:14 pm

I heard Delta’s looking to follow suit… let the good times roll.

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Darren Cronian | 23 May, 2008 at 11:45 pm

@ Matt

I thought that might grab peoples attention :)

@ Dean

Good point about the mentality of flight prices, but the point people are making is that Ryanair offers £0.01p flights and you pay for baggage, fair enough – AA passengers pay high end amounts for flights and now have to pay for baggage.

Like you say it’s all about profit, but if companies were more truthful for the reason for these charges consumers might not kick as much fuss.

Good points everyone keep those rants coming in.

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Rohan | 25 May, 2008 at 8:33 am

Nothing new get over it.

This will just become the norm but you will not see the prices reduced to those of Ryanair who seem to be able to run a business selling 1p flights.

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Darren Cronian | 25 May, 2008 at 10:36 am

@ Rohan

It’s nothing new for us Brits, but for Americans it is a massive issue. You do not mind paying a luggage surcharge if the price of the flight is cheap, not that I am defending surcharges.

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Rohan | 26 May, 2008 at 12:34 pm

Its just just a massive issue for the Americans because airlines around the world will have to go down charging for luggage because they are under pressure to help the environment by the worlds governments.

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