American Airlines

Hello HP,

Yes and it isn't good. My niece and her husband were booked on an AA flight which was bought and paid for months in advance. This happened on the first day of their honeymoon!! They were bumped from their paid for flight to Las Vegas, NV. and skipped over for the next flight and finally got a flight out at 10:30 that night!! So, that means they wasted their entire first day in the DFW airport! My brother-in-law made some phone calls and raised some cane and finally helped get them on a flight out. I avoid AA from now on. The airline also lost their lugguge!

Better to try a different airline company if at all possible!

Good Luck! T.

We typically fly American...my BIL used to fly for them, but I won't fly them again merely for the fact that they are charging you for checked in luggage now unless you are an Elite member. My husband is an Elite member, but I am not so when we recently tooka trip I got charged an arm and a leg for my luggage (it was under the weight limit). I was VERY unhappy...they restrict so much of what you carry on now that you have to check some luggage and why pay twice. I love John Wayne airport, but I would personally choose another airline unless you can't find a flight anywhere else.

**** I would love to amend my response after reading Megan's response! I do agree that the cost for the airlines has risen with the cost of fuel - HOWEVER - the executives at American Airlines just gave themseleves MILLIONS in BONUSES!!!! Not salary - BONUSES...so let's be real and admit that we are paying not for fuel! Who can I pass the cost of my fuel on to???? And they aren't calling it a fuel charge and charging everyone - they are only charging those of us who don't have elite/business class status (My husband travels for his job EVERY week and is an elite traveler, but I got charged $15 coming AND going). Looks like they don't want to offend some customers...

Here is the low down on baggage. If you purchase your ticket before June 15, you get 1 bag per person free. After June 15, it will cost you to check luggage.

ALL of the airlines will eventually be following this policy. Delta just announced it is going to charge for bags. Spirit Airlines has always charged for bags. Get used to paying all of these extra fees. Airline ticket prices have just steadily increased, and they will continue to do so until the public quits flying.

I'm irritated about being charged to check luggage now. We're flying to Connecticut in August, and it'll be tough to condense to 2 suitcases. Plus, we have to check our carseat. Will that be $15 as well? I'm wondering if would be cheaper to rent one when we get there, or should we suck up the $30 and take our own. Anyone had experience with that? I had heard a rumor that if you'd already bought your ticket before the start date that you didn't have to pay it. I'm assuming that's not true?

**Ya'll got me curious, so I looked on aa.com. Here's their policy for checked bags -

The following customers will not be charged a service fee to check a bag provided the bag is within the weight allowance:

For the first checked bag, customers who buy a ticket before June 15, 2008, or who fly before June 15, 2008
For the second checked bag, customers who purchased a ticket before May 12, 2008

So, I'm assuming this means, if my tickets were bought prior ot May 12, I could fly with 2 bags. If you buy the tickets before June 15, each flyer could have one bag free? That might help make your decision.

My husband is on planes weekly and I am the one who does all of his flight, hotel and car arrangements.

He flies AAir and Southwest mainly. I do everything online.

In the case of a cancelled flight, AAir will automatically put you on another one. It might not be the one of your choice. You DO have saying power if they do that to you and you are put on some oddball flight that ruins your plans. You just TELL them that the arranged flight does not work. My hubby has never stayed booked on a flight that we did not book. In his business it is vital to be someplace on time.

As for the luggage, I think they will back down on part of that. They already are in some sense. Hubby is a Gold member and we have already received noticed that we will not be charged the up charges.

I am a little concerned with the airmiles fees. I am accustomed to paying the $5 fee for security and an extra $5 is not that bad to book an award ticket. You do have to book those in advance as much as possible. If on a big trip, like Hawaii, we always book that about a year in advance.

Rental car companies will rent car seats, etc. You can use the menu online while setting up your rental if you need car seats, GPS, etc.

The one thing that bothers us most is the bags and bag fees because a LOT of people will be trying to bring things on the plane. The downside to that (which AAir will see) and (you will to if you fly a lot) is that it already takes a long time for people to get settled so the plane can leave. This will make that process longer. I think the 1 bag charge might very well be lifted.

As for Southwest....it is a pain to have to stop after leaving Dallas if you are going very far but they are a solid airline and SO easy to deal with on the phone and online.

Just my two cents worth!

TF

My husband works for American and we are waiting to find out if he will still have a job in the fall. With that being said, they are not going to start reduce flights until Sept. It is highly likely that they will cut flights/jobs during the busy summer season.
Have a great trip!

For the past five years, if I didnt want to drive to DFW, AA was the only airline I could fly. They are notorious for canceling flights, normally because of 'weather' or 'mechanical' problems; however, I do have to admit they have been very good working with me to get my flight schedule changed, connecting flights, etc. I have heard recently that they are charging $10 for checking the first bag, $15 for each additional bag after that. If you can do carry-ons, go for it and rest assured that 99% of their staff is very friendly and helpful!

The information that I saw as recently as last night regarding cancellations of AA flights was those going to luxury destinations - I remember Honolulu and Puerto Rico being on the list of about 5 or 6 different locations. The reasoning is that bookings for those locations are down anyway due to people cutting back on extravagant vacations. As far as the luggage, I read in the newspaper last week (while vacationing in Washington D.C.) that it would take affect June 15th. The first piece is $15 and the second piece is $20. The article was estimating that a family of four would have to pay an additional $320 - $340 for a trip because of checking luggage. Very sad.......unfortunately, it probably won't take long for other airlines to institute a similar policy....So, I believe you should be ok booking your flight.

My husband and I flew AA to Oregon in March and had no problems (even with the flight cancellations they had that month for plane maintenance). We're flying to Canada later this summer on AA and to Florida in December (although we haven't purchased our tickets yet, I'm sure we'll end up on AA - we almost always do).

Personally, I think most Americans have gotten to the point where we take too much when we travel these days. So many places offer travel-size toiletries (Target has a huge variety I was just looking at the other day) and if you get somewhere and realize you forgot something, it's not like you're going somewhere that won't have convenience stores. I realize this is different for parents of small children, but I think your daughters are old enough to have their own small carry on with their clothes and things. If they like Hannah Montana, Target has a new line of Hannah Montana luggage.

Remember - as the rules stand now for AA, you can have one carry on and one personal item. That means, you can take on a small suitcase (that fits the size requirements) and a small back pack or shoulder bag (i.e. a large purse) - as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. My husband and I can pack everything we need clothing/toiletries wise in our own suitcases and then everything else we might need (like books, maps, jacket, extra shoes, etc.) in our "personal item".

Well, I may not want to admit this, but my hubby works for AA. He definitely isn't in upper management, though, so we're getting shafted as well. I can tell you that as unfortunate as it is, the airlines in general will be cutting back flights and raising rates. It's sad when you can buy a ticket cheaper than it is to drive to your destination. Times have changed! If you book a flight and it ends up being taken off the schedule (cancelled), they are obligated to book you on the next available flight or to refund your money. It's hard to say when the next flight will be with room on it. It just depends on the travel load that particular day.

I will mention that it's true that the general public pays the luggage fees while the Advantage travelers (Elite) do not because it's a courtesy toward their frequent fliers. The business travelers are the ones who American makes the most business with so they will offer perks to keep them flying AA.

Also, be careful about flying some of the charter airlines because they are struggling even more than the major airlines. If you book a flight on a company who goes bankrupt, I seriously doubt you will get any compensation. At least stick to a major carrier. As unstable as the airline industry is now, at least there is more of a guarantee with a major airline.

I always recommend carry-bags. Nothing will get lost that way. Each passenger is allowed a carry-on, including children. Hope that helps! Good luck!

An alternatiave to checked baggage would be to send it on to your hotel via UPS or FedEx. Many business people do this all the time. It's another thought.

Pack light and and not heavy and enjoy your trip. By this I mean most people take more clothes than they need and only use half of what they take. Check for a laundramat nearby and do a load or two to keep down the weight. Good luck and enjoy. S.

The flights that are being reduced are to Puetro Rico, The bahamas, Honolulu. If they cancel the flight that you're on they will rebook you on a different one to the same destination. As for the "paying of checked bags"...I know that it's frustrating but think about it this way, Since the inception of the airline industry they have been financially supported by the federal government. After 9/11 that changed and they are no longer supported by government monies. This means that the airlines are now going to have to charge the american public what it ACTUALLY COSTS to pay for that jet. Airplane fuel is costing between $5-6 per gallon. A large regional jet (carries 70 passengers) takes 2200 gallons of gas which is approximately $10K to fill up the tank. Then,the maintenance on the airplane costs approx $1000/hr and the crew is approx $250/hr. So, all of that being said, it's expensive to fly a jet. I think that the public paying $15/bag is pretty reasonable considering the overall cost of the airplane.

I am flying with AA in July but we have already paid for the entire vacation so there is no changing it now. I am rather upset with the new policy about paying for checked luggage. I wish we were going on a different airline.

As far as the possibility of a cancelled flight, they have to reschedule you. Now this means your 10 am flight could become a 5 am, or 10 pm flight. What they do not advertise is you do have the right to a refund on said flight, but I'm sure you would have to fight to get all your money back. If it is a last minute change you may have trouble rescheduling or have to pay a lot more for a last minute flight with someone else. To be fair to AA, even though they don't deserve it, I think all airlines are canceling flights. So you may still have this problem.

All of that said, My advice would be to look into another airline. This thing with paying for luggage has really p***ed me off, to say the least. I just hope the other airlines realize how upset the AA customers are and don't follow suit. If they do, I'll be taking the Train instead. I have boys, they would probably rather take the train anyway.

My apologies if I ranted a bit. I just need to remember it is a vacation and I am supposed to have fun! Good luck with your arrangements.

AA is charging for all checked luggage the cost is $15.oo a bag ONE way and if it exceeds the weight limit you pay more.