American's $15 first checked bag

LostComm said:
Here's a whole can of worms: Maybe the fare should be based on total weight of the passenger plus bags.
LC
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Had that thought too! I think that would be perfect, personally but can you imagine the uproar? Still, our carrying capacity is often weight limited, so why not charge this way?

I can see the lines now though - everyone lined up at the ticket counter to step on the scales and there's a Six Flags vendor hawking to guess their weight! 'Five bucks to guess your weight! Free ticket if I'm wrong!' :D
 
LostComm said:
Here's a whole can of worms: Maybe the fare should be based on total weight of the passenger plus bags.
LC
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We'd have to get some high capacity scales. We've become a nation of lard butts and then add in the bags full of crap that will never be used....
 
Hmm in ways the checked bag fee is better than hiking the price. Yes it does make AA look better on the online travel websites but overall it isn't a full price increase like increasing the ticket price would be. Not everyone will have a carry on which would make a trip for a weekend still doable with no checked luggage and such. Increased revenue without having to charge everyone extra is the bonus.
 
This might sound a little "curt" but if an extra $15 is prohibitive in keeping you from traveling, chances are you need to be at the Greyhound station rather than DFW Terminal B.
 
shoot, i was at the hair stylist yesterday and even the girls in there were talking about it. they all were telling me that the airlines should just up their fees... it'd be better in the long run and they do see how the airlines might go back to being a "ride for the rich" in the future.

but none of them liked the idea of being nit picky with fees... gotta up the cost, just charge more for the ticket and give back all the complementary services that go with the idea of being a service industry.

funny how airlines end up being a topic in a salon eh?! HAHA
 
Kristie said:
shoot, i was at the hair stylist yesterday and even the girls in there were talking about it. they all were telling me that the airlines should just up their fees... it'd be better in the long run and they do see how the airlines might go back to being a "ride for the rich" in the future.

but none of them liked the idea of being nit picky with fees... gotta up the cost, just charge more for the ticket and give back all the complementary services that go with the idea of being a service industry.

funny how airlines end up being a topic in a salon eh?! HAHA
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then you chimed in with "Just fly Delta, they don't have outrageous fees" :D
 
nope, only my actual hairstylist knows i'm in an airline family... i don't go announcing it otherwise, i tend to get 20 questions that i'm not willing to answer. :D
 
Kristie said:
shoot, i was at the hair stylist yesterday and even the girls in there were talking about it. they all were telling me that the airlines should just up their fees... it'd be better in the long run and they do see how the airlines might go back to being a "ride for the rich" in the future.

but none of them liked the idea of being nit picky with fees... gotta up the cost, just charge more for the ticket and give back all the complementary services that go with the idea of being a service industry.
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Are they going to charge everyone the higher price in the salon regardless of what you get done? They can give everyone who comes in comp chocolate mints or something, that'll keep the customers coming...!!! :panic:
 
Agreed--Salons charge by the sevice.

Are you suggesting that they want a change? Would the salon charge all clients for the total of a cut, color, glaze, foil, manicure, pedicure, makeup, etc??????????????? I don't think so--people who did not need the extra services whould be angry!

Isn't it better to charge for the basic service and then add on the extras?

Why is that so different in airline world?
 
I think the industries of salon and airline are a little different, don't you? both service industries yes but with entirely different pricing structures and different included services.

you don't expect to get your hair colored for the price of a cut (at least girls don't considering the cost and time difference). plus, guys would never expect to pay the same cost of a girls haircut considering it's well known that girl haircuts/color/style are much more expensive than guys.

but there are salons out there (many of them) that will charge $60 whether your hair is short or long or they'll automatically add a $10 tip for any cut no matter how long the visit was or how good the service was. is that fair? no, but it's still done and people still pay that fee knowing that even the salon folks need to be paid.

but with the airlines, people expect to be able to check their bags..they expect blankets, pillows, food/beverages to be included in the cost of the ticket...so if they expect those services to be included, why not just up the fee instead of adding surcharges all over the place?
 
:sarcasm: All I can think of: Now I'm going to have to pay $15.00 if I want to shampoo my hair while I am on my trip! :mad: :sarcasm: :banghead:
 
but with the airlines, people expect to be able to check their bags..they expect blankets, pillows, food/beverages to be included in the cost of the ticket...
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20 years ago we expected to be fed and eat off of actual dishes. 10 years ago we expected to depart and arrive more or less on time. 5 years ago we expected to go transcontinental for $150 roundtrip. Last year we expected to be able to check our luggage curb side for free. This year we expected to be able to bring 2 bags stuffed full of clothes for no extra charge. Next year we will expect to get at least one free beverage and a snack.
 
Well Southwest is taking advantage of this. I can't find any videos of it online, but I did see a commercial yesterday by Southwest talking about fees for everything, including using the lavatory (lol).
 
so what.. you put a quarter in the slot, get 2 minutes of bathroom time and if you go over that...eject seat? HAHA
 
That's why Southwest makes money. How long did this bag uproar occur? A week? Maybe? They know how to play the game over there.
 
Kristie said:
but with the airlines, people expect to be able to check their bags..they expect blankets, pillows, food/beverages to be included in the cost of the ticket...so if they expect those services to be included, why not just up the fee instead of adding surcharges all over the place?
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Yeah, and they expect all those things for $200 a ticket.

Ain't happening.

People need to change their expectations. Adapt or don't fly.

Me, personally, I'd prefer an airline that doesn't do this a la carte deal and just says, pay this, and deal with it. It would show management with some stones.

But we all know that ain't happening.

Airlines need to show some stones. Next time someone complains about the rising fares, what the execs being interviewed need to do is say, well, you could take Greyhound but it would cost you more and it'd take you five times as long, and shove a printout of Greyhound's fares in the reporter's face.
 
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