This is a rather interesting idea-the Airlines should charge for the carry on rather than the checked bags.
Airlines are charging for the wrong bags

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080617...tiMPFCkfes0NUE

yeah...i'm in the process of booking a trip through europe...i'm taking ONE bag, and i checked, it can be allowed as a carry-on

Here is a rather interesting, informative blog report from Airfarewatchdog about AA's (and others) baggage fees and reaction to them:
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/Airfa...7/Default.aspx

Airlines Slow to Get on Board With Bag FeesCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The move by AMR(AMR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) unit American Airlines to charge passengers $15 for their first checked bag has triggered an unusual split in the airline industry.

Typically, airlines act in concert when imposing new charges or higher ticket prices, fearing the competitive impact if one carrier charges more than another. But today, three legacy carriers and low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines impose a first-bag fee, while the three remaining legacy carriers and most low-fare carriers have not. One reason for the split involves the question of whether the fee actually boosts revenue without adding cost. Aviation consultant Robert Mann says some airlines also worry the fee may trigger the unintended consequence of "turning flight attendants into baggage police" and causing delays as more passengers carry items on board and excess luggage must be moved from the cabin to baggage holds............
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10422...-bag-fees.html

Boo.

American raised the costs for carryon-pets. I didn't even realize that until now.

I travel home around 3x/yr with my dog and before it was $160, which often times was even more expensive if not the same price for a whole other seat.

Now it's $200 round trip.

And on top of that, it's still counted as a carry-on bag :mad:

For those of us who are:
1) Keeping score on all the changes/charges;)
2) Traveling and need to know what is going on:(
3) Or just have a general interest in this:
U.S. Domestic Airline Fee Chart
http://www.farecompare.com/resources...able/index.htm?

Airline Carry-On Baggage Chart
http://rickseaney.com/airline-carry-on-baggage-chart/

That Flight You Booked 6 Months Ago? Cancelled! But We Can Help
http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/07/tha...t-we-can-help/

See, that really scalds me! My brother has flown DOBERMANS several times in the past, and they just sit in their crate on a seat. The one time I tried to fly with a 17# dog who fits in a tote bag, I was told that he had to stay under the seat in front of me. I offered to buy him a seat - no go.

Something's got to give!

For those traveling with pets, here is some info for you:
Sparky Takes a Trip - But Will You (and OTHERS on the Plane) Survive It?
http://rickseaney.com/2008/06/10/spa...ne-survive-it/

And if you thought AA example was "bad", look at this:
"Costs have gotten crazy: The way rates have gone up for pet transport in recent months is a consideration. Let’s look at domestic pet-transport prices on Northwest, for example:
Northwest pet-in-cabin travel: $160 roundtrip
Northwest pet-in-cargo travel: up to (take deep breath) $718 roundtrip
NOTE: That $718 fee is for “canines of size” so if Sparky is a big boy and requires a giant-sized travel kennel (dog + kennel = 150 pounds), you’ll pay $718. Not sure I’d take a child along at that price."

wow, there were some assholes in that Sparky Takes a Trip thread. :rolleyes:

LOL @ "canines of size." My cat would NEVER fit under an airplane seat, he's so big he needs a carrier that would fit a pug or slightly bigger. I can't imagine flying w/ him or other animals ever - if I was moving to Europe or something, I would take a boat.

I wouldn't put any animal in the cargo area! Too often, pets are left on the tarmac in the heat or snow, and are sickened by the time their owners are finally allowed to pick them up. I have a friend with show dogs, and she & her husband are looking into an RV, rather than flying with the dogs. They have Samoyeds, a bit big to fit under the seat.

I don't remember having to pay anything when I brought my family dog to live with my brother in Florida...but that was in 1996. (I told people we were retiring him. He had arthritis.) We flew him in cargo, but at the time the plane was pressurized for that. The crew was great to him as well. They brought him to me on a cart and he arrived well before my luggage. Things definitely have changed.

They already do charge you for an extra seat if you are overweight to the point that you cannot lower the arm rest don't they? I thought I read that somewhere.

Looks like US Airways is scrapping their movies altogether for domestic flights, excluding Hawai'i, of course. :)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...FKlmwD91QVHU81

That's what Ipods are for, in my opinion.

Or a good long book.;)
$10 million dollar savings on fuel alone. Plus film rights.

Southwest does, but I'm not sure if any other airlines do.

I think that's just Southwest, although I certainly understand. I was once on the aisle of 3 seats, with a woman SO huge, she not only couldn't put the armrest down, but two of the seat belts with the extension couldn't fit across from her.

And you think you're trying to save gas ...
 

Kind of interesting story:
And you think you're trying to save gas ...

Meet the man in charge of cutting American Airlines' fuel bill

"
As he strides through Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Scott Turner may not look like the weight of crushing oil prices rests squarely on his shoulders.
But Turner is the man American Airlines has tapped to make sure its fleet of 700 aircraft uses every drop of jet fuel as efficiently as possible. With a title of manager of flight operations efficiency, he’s painfully aware of the sight and even the sounds of fuel use.
“When you hear jet noise, that’s money being spent,” he says.
Turner runs a program called Fuel Smart. Its mission is nothing less than to transform the mind-set of the nation’s largest carrier.
As Turner watches 20,000 gallons of fuel being pumped into a jet, he says, “this is what we are trying to do as little of as we can.”
At the recent market price of roughly $3.85 a gallon, that means it costs about $77,000 to top off a Boeing 737.".....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25592648/

It's only a matter of time before stranded passengers start smashing desks and computers in America.

http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/29/ch...ge-at-airport/

i saw the news story listed under odd stories of the day and thought just about the same thing
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddly...ddlyEnoughNews

Isn't that the same story that OTW just posted? :rolleyes:


I don't understand something, shouldn't the "ticket takers"/front desk people know if the airline charges for extra things (like luggage)? My best friend is in Hong Kong on an exchange thing, and before she left she had mentioned she was going to fly to Houston on Continental. I knew Continental was one of the airlines that charged for the 1st checked bag (as well as the other checked bags). My friend was going to be there from June-August doing clinicals and such, so she had a few bags to carry with her. I had her call several people (like the travel agent, the airlines, etc) and everyone said no not on international flights. Yet El Paso to Houston isn't international & she was taking a different airline to Hong Kong. Well turns out, she DID have to pay the check bags fee.

Yup, they are trying to save gas. I just spent over an hour and a half on the tarmac at ATL today and they only had air on every few minutes "to save fuel". grrrrr.

One of my best friends from college works for United, and it's not pretty. It's also going to get worse before it gets better, kids.

If any of you HAVE to fly somewhere for Christmas, get your tix now. I just got $325 for NYC-NOLA, FL-NYC for the second half of December. Best deal ever.

delta just doubled the fee on second bag to $50, as well as increasing fees for third bag, weight bags and special handling items.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssA...41530720080729

Thanks for the heads up. I just booked my Christmas ticket. I got $250 for Atlanta to West Palm Beach which is actually a really good price for holiday travel.