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AA Should Bag Boneheaded Luggage Fee

Or face more delays, lost baggage, and longer security lines

By Ellen Gibson, Newser User

Posted May 29, 2008 6:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – American Airlines’ plan to charge passengers $15 to check a bag is likely to cost the carrier more money than it generates, Joe Brancatelli argues in Portfolio. “Not only will it infuriate flyers—who are already annoyed with American’s lousy operating efficiency and its recent maintenance snafus—it’s likely to further erode American’s on-time and baggage-handling rates,” he writes.

Inexperienced fliers will likely respond with oversized carry-ons, provoking ticket-counter clashes. Even sanctioned carry-ons will have to be screened and stowed, time-consuming processes that could cause delays. Worse, bags that don’t fit onboard will have to be gate-checked—a recipe for lost luggage and liability. “You can’t fix stupid," Brancatelli concludes. "And this fee is going into the Airline Stupid Hall of Fame.”

American Airlines passengers checks in one piece of luggage at American Airlines counter at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, May 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Robert Villella checks in at the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport in New York. Starting June 15, American will charge passengers a $15 fee for the first checked bag. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

A passenger pulls her suitcase through the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in New York. Starting June 15, American will charge passengers a $15 fee for... (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

A person rolls luggage through a baggage claim area. American Airlines said it would begin charging $15 for a checked bag, cut domestic capacity, and eliminate jobs to deal with record fuel prices. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People check luggage outside the American Airlines terminal at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 21, 2008. American Airlines said Wednesday it would begin charging $15 for... (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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AA Should Bag Boneheaded Luggage Fee

Or face more delays, lost baggage, and longer security lines

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American Airlines to Cut 13K Jobs

Airline will emerge from bankruptcy with fewer workers

Top Carriers Weigh American Airlines Merger

US Airways, Delta in the running

Put Baldwin on No-Fly List: Union

Keep him and '30 Rock' off American Airlines, demand flight attendants

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy

Parent firm says voluntary move best choice for firm

Airline Hit With $900K Fine for Tarmac Waits

American Eagle first to be fined under new policy

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AA Should Bag Boneheaded Luggage Fee

Or face more delays, lost baggage, and longer security lines

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

airline industry • luggage • American Airlines • flight attendants • airline delays • fees • lost baggage

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

American Airlines to Cut 13K Jobs

Airline will emerge from bankruptcy with fewer workers

Top Carriers Weigh American Airlines Merger

US Airways, Delta in the running

Put Baldwin on No-Fly List: Union

Keep him and '30 Rock' off American Airlines, demand flight attendants

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy

Parent firm says voluntary move best choice for firm

Airline Hit With $900K Fine for Tarmac Waits

American Eagle first to be fined under new policy

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?