American Airlines plans a la carte pricing

I agree that passengers shoud be charged for their own weight plus their carry-ons...a discount for under 200 and charges for over 200 per pound.  Here's a suggestion for additional fees I haven't seen:  " Put a credit card swiper on the lavoratory door...charging by the minute.

It makes it difficult for the business traveler.  Our corporate policy is set to make our traveling as inexpensive as possible for the company.    I doubt they will pay for me to select a seat ahead of time, so I'll probably be stuck in the middle seat for the rest of my life.   

I can't even imagine an airline charging extra for booking a flight over the internet. They already charge more for booking with a reservation agent. The only other option would be to travel to the airport and make the reservation in person. Besides, the airlines (especially American) has spent years telling us that we can save money by booking online, instead with an agent.

Besides, this added burden of having to evaluate costs for each service we may want or need, only makes it take longer and more inconvenient to book a flight. As long as Southwest avoids a la cart pricing, I'll fly Southwest whenever possible simply because it is much easier and I already know Southwest usually has the lowest fair and very good service. It has been a rare flight on American, that has included what I would call good service. And, I've flown on American for nearly 1 million miles.

I think SWA will become the dominant carrier in 5 years.  If anyone is travelling for a stay over a few days, they will have to check a bag and maybe even drink some water to prevent dehydration during a flight.
American, Delta, and NW are loser airlines.  UAL is following closely.  Cash your miles now!

It appears to me that no matter what the U.S. carriers do, they never seem to be able to achieve solvency.  The more fees they charge, the worse it gets.  There is no service.  I'll drive, thank you.

sam

I will not be surprised if airlines begin selling magazines, or charging $20 for carry-on baggage, $5 to use the overhead bin, or $2 per restroom visit, and a few bucks for post-flight trash disposal and interior cleaning fee - regardless of whether you fly coach, business, or first class.

I flew in late August and was charged for checked bags and for changing a seat.   Let the airlines drown in 'innovations'; oil prices have dropped but their fares have not and nickel and diming the consumer may backfire.  I know I have no plans to fly again; I've cut back travel plans considerably, and when I travel, I plan to rent a hybrid car and drive instead. 

If everyone asked for a printed receipt for each and every thing they had to pay for, it would put an abrupt stop to this practice. Those who travel on business (their most lucrative business) need to fill out expense reports. We need those dated receipts!

I'm still waiting for someone to sue over lost baggage. The additional fee implies that such items are covered under a contract separate from the contract of carriage

Looking into JET TIME-Share......I am fed-up with the airlines

It's the service stupid!  The airlines continue to make the biggest mistake of all... they took loyal passengers and screwed them in an attempt to attract the individual who flys once a year or less.  Remember SONG?  Who came up with the idea of giving the leisure travel customer better fares and comforts than a high paying business customer?  Maybe that person got a job on Wall Street and decided to give loans to people without incomes. 

I honestly don't have a problem with this.  In Europe, when you buy a train ticket, you are buying a seat only and sometimes you are not even guaranteed a seat.  Sometimes you have to stand for your journey.  Anything else you want on board that train, you must pay for separately.  Why shouldn't air travel be the same???

I travel light and amenities, including the "food" served on airlines, are something I avoid; I embrace paying less because I will opt out of services I do not use.  Internet and phone use?  Why should an airline not charge for such services?Two years ago I was on a fully booked flight to Maui and I had an aisle seat on what was a fully-booked flight.  However, the middle and window seats were empty and when my flight pal arrived I understood: He was morbidly obese and required a seatbelt extension.  He also required the middle seat for his hip, thigh and panis.  It is not possible that the airline could have asked a passenger to sit in the middle, and had I been the unlucky passenger to find my seat mostly occupied by a passenger in his condition, there would have been carnage.Again, why should an airline not charge and book two seats for such a passenger?Airlines are in business to make money and if people are willing to pay, then why not charge?  Oil companies have determined that consumers are willing to pay an average of four bucks per gallon for gas, so why shouldn't they?

Made a reservation for the Thanksgiving holiday well in advance this time - in June. So far, SWA stopped the non-stop service to my destination, got switched to AA with a 2 hour earlier departure, a stopover/plane change in the very place I wanted to avoid (Dallas/Ft Worth), and a return flight 9 hours later than the original to return (with another stop in - UGH - DFW). Also got notified about the baggage charge that SWA wasn't charging on the original non-refundable ticket. Will I still go? Yes - the non-refundable ticket is still non-refundable from Cheaptickets.com. Not that I'm griping about the basic ticket price, it didn't change. If I'd waited until today to book that flight, it would have cost me a whole lot more than paying to check a bag or pay for a bottle of water or a cup of coffee on the flight.

I don't think the charging passengers by weight will go through. For some or many, it will be considered discrimination and the lawsuits will come flying in.

I think charging for carry-ons is a stupid idea considering that most US airlines are charging for checked bags (even for one). If airlines start charging for carry-ons, I believe it will a big PR disaster. If they have to charge for carry-ons, then checking a bag should be free. It can't be both because passengers will complain and begin losing their temper.

Finally, charging for oxygen masks, I think, is illegal by federal law. The FAA would probably take away the airline's operating license if someone in management implemented such a fee. Oxygen masks are an essential part of any airline. It would be a grave mistake for airlines because passengers will think that the airline has adopted a profits first philosophy, while safety comes second.

don't think I'll be flying AA any time soon.. Or any of the other moronic airlines that are charging all these fee's... JetBlue who's customer service is in the toilet is out also.. If I can drive I'll do that or just starting doing conferences via the web.. start using technology and SCREW the airlines...

I think we need to see the dimiss of several carriers before things improve. 

New carriers will emerge, but they will operate without the costly labor ageements that the curent incumbents bear.  Passengers will then be able to pick airlines like they do hotels, basic to full service i.e. a Motel 6 or a Grand Hyatt.

I fly 4 to 5 times a year for between work and vacation and fly Southwest. I have never had a problem on Southwest and they are usually more on time than the rest. Last summer I had to fly American which ran late here and I missed my next connecting flight and so forth. I ended up getting to North Carolina (from New Orleans) almost 6 hours later than my orginal flight. This summer i did New Orleans to Denver non-stop and got there almost 45 minutes ahead of schedule.

And these extras. When I do my summer trip it's 10-14 days. There is no way I can go without checking a bag and it's usually two. This year I flew Southwest and never paid for a bag but I'm flying in a few months and already am being told I have to pay for my first bag. How I wish I could fly Southwest all the time.

If this is true (and I wouldn't put it past them), then I'm done with AA. I'm sure that someone (Continental perhaps?) will be happy to gain an Executive Platinum business flier. I know that I'm currently exempt from most fees, but there's no guarantee that will stay the case and, frankly, if I wanted a bus-quality experience, I would be flying a discount carrier, not American.

This new wrinkle of charging for beverages and blankets etc., is only the beginning. I'm waiting for prices to include taking off and landing fees. After all since ticket does not specifically say landing and taking off perhaps it should be charge extra like blankets. Will be expected to jump out sans lugage if we did not pay the extra fee to land? Seems silly, but just wait. Next they'll add a fee with or without live pilot. I wonder if i can get a discount if I fly the plane myself.

It's getting expensive, but it's getting so ridiculous it's almost comical.

At least they are modeling themselves after another 3 star airline instead of a 2 star airline.  As someone who lives in Canada, I have had more difficulties with Air Canada than their competitors and in all cases when we have a choice we prefer to use the competitors.  

I'll go bare bones: I'll get strapped to the floor of the fuselage rather than pay extra for the seat. And pee into my empty water bottle rather than pay for using the flush toilet. It will be hard not being able to read because I will decline the overhead light fee, but at least I can try for extra sleep (albeit on the floor).   But if the oxygen masks ever deploy I'm in trouble. I won't have paid my oxygen fee.

Polonius

It's one thing to be charged more for extras. While we all preferred the all-inclusive fares, I don't mind paying extra for food, phone service or a headset if it will save me money on my air fare. I never use those amenities anyway. And if I have to pay for a soda...well, so be it. I generally just buy a bottled water in the airport at the start of my flight and drink that. But being charged to bring a suit case on a week-long vacation?? I've so far avoided this charge by booking before the regulations hit. My next flight is on Delta and I can bring ONE bag free. Since I typically bring both a suitcase and garment bag for a long trip, I'm going to have to adjust my habits. I purchased the very largest carry-on bag allowed and will carry that with my suitcase. It saves me money, but it won't save the airline anything. I'll be taking up overhead compartment space and my total baggage weight will not be reduced. How did this help them??

I have to agree with the weight comments. If you require a seatbelt extender, you should be required to buy two seats. It isn't fair for the person sitting next to you - who paid for one seat - to be forced to use only 3/4 of a seat. I've been there/done that and I don't appreciate it one bit - particularly at this outrageous air fares!

American Airlines is the worst airlines of all. I made an internet booking the last time I flew in AA, and had to deal with overbooking, and thus, had to wait to board another plane for which I had to wait like 5 hours.

These guys will charge for everything. What about consumers? Why don't you place orders for hybrid aeroplanes? Why don't you make lighter weight planes? Why does the consumers be spared for atrocities you keep throwing us with? Bring some innovation to develop airplanes that will cater to today's situation. An airplane is no food to be charge a la carte as it is made to accommodate several people at one go. Extra charges would spread burdens on consumers who already are dealing with credit crisis.

The luggage bags were charged because of rising oil prices. I don't see any reason that the prices and add ons should be done away with the falling oil prices. Someone should use their creative brains to make air travel more viable instead of a horrible experience.

I just flew on Southwest this past week for business.... I chose Southwest (one stop) over American (non-stop) because Southwest was waaaaay less expensive than American.  The flight was great, the service was great and I saved money.

American is a dinosaur and is desperately trying to woo customers via the oldest trick in the book (bait and switch).  They'll advertise a low base rate, then charge you extra for every little service.

Most people hate the phone companies because they will nickle and dime you to death after they get you with a low base rate... Now American wants to emulate that????

I think that they are hoping that consumers will exhibit the I.D. Ten T. behavior.  If you don't know what that is, I'll spell it out for you. ID10T.