Ripped off by American Airlines

JerryBobCo

My wife flew home Colorado Springs to Dallas-Ft. Worth yesterday on an American Airlines flight.  She had one extremely heavy suitcase.  She had to pay the regular $30 for checking a bag, plus $200 extra because the suitcase was 3 lbs. overweight. 

I have no doubt that this is in compliance with AA's documented baggage policy, but it's still a rip off.  $200 for 3 lbs. overweight seems extreme.

All things considered, it is what it is, but I wanted to mention it here.  Maybe I'm whining, but it's my $200 and I don't like it.

Zee

I have an AA flight coming up. 

I had to allocate $400 just for estimated overweight baggage!

That’s more that the round trip ticket cost. 

JerryBobCo

Zee, one question my wife was asked was if she had booked a first class ticket.  She had not, and I'm not sure why they asked her this.  Perhaps their policy allows more baggage weight for first class passengers than for economy.  This might be something worth looking into.

Gene L

I believe that's the case where there's no baggage penalty for first class.  Which means it's sometimes cheaper to fly first.

Big Al1

Airlines are the

zorba

Fly Southwest.

jbp-ohio

When my wife flies for work, they use only one air line. That way they know all of the rules and have instructions to follow on weighing your luggage before getting to the airport.

snake284

JerryBobCo said:

My wife flew home Colorado Springs to Dallas-Ft. Worth yesterday on an American Airlines flight.  She had one extremely heavy suitcase.  She had to pay the regular $30 for checking a bag, plus $200 extra because the suitcase was 3 lbs. overweight. 

I have no doubt that this is in compliance with AA's documented bagga$ge policy, but it's still a rip off.  $200 for 3 lbs. overweight seems extreme.

All things considered, it is what it is, but I wanted to mention it here.  Maybe I'm whining, but it's my $200 and I don't likIIe it.

Oh hell, I wouldn't like it either. American never seemed to sensitive to my feelings in the past and I don't think they've improved. If they gave a crap about their clients they would do something like a graduated overweight penalty. First 10 pounds $20, second 10 pounds $40. third ten pounds $60. and so forth, you get my drift.

Jayhawker

zorba said:

Fly Southwest.

3/4 of their fleet is grounded because of overdue maintenance issues...might want to reconsider that...

Jayhawker

I'm not sure if it's and actual rip off...I mean we know the rules in advance..it's always a good idea to weigh your bag before you leave and UPS stuff home...far cheaper than eating an overweight fee...
Delta will let you go 2 pounds over...52 pounds before they start hitting you with that excess baggage nonsense

earlyagain

Any product or service provider that perceives that what they're selling has a captive consumer base. In other words consumers that see the product or service as an unavoidable necessity. Those providers feel free  gouge the consumer. Its actually part of the modern business model.

If the unregulated free market provides any form of consumer protection, I don't see it. I see instead just the opposite. In profusion with respect to air travel and pharmaceutical drugs as well as some other businesses of lesser renown.

10canyon53

What Zorba said.  I don't understand why people insist on putting up with the abuse from other airlines.  I fly Southwest all the time for business.  They don't charge for checked bags until the 3rd one.  They don't charge change fees if you have to change your flight.  They don't charge to pick your seat - it's open seating, sit wherever you want.  They don't charge to print your boarding pass.  They don't charge for your carry-on.  The only drinks they charge for contain alcohol.  And to top it off, they are always friendly, helpful and act like they genuinely appreciate your business.  American Airlines attitude is more like "How dare you fly with us!"  I get enough points from Southwest flying for business that I almost never have to pay for a ticket when I fly for non-business purposes.  I was traveling enough a couple of years ago that I earned a Companion Pass for my wife.  Yep, that meant anywhere I flew, she could go with me for free.  My travel has slacked off since then so the pass expired.  My wife told me a couple of months ago that I needed to travel more for business so she could get it back. 

CaliFFL

JerryBobCo said:

My wife flew home Colorado Springs to Dallas-Ft. Worth yesterday on an American Airlines flight.  She had one extremely heavy suitcase.  She had to pay the regular $30 for checking a bag, plus $200 extra because the suitcase was 3 lbs. overweight. 

I have no doubt that this is in compliance with AA's documented baggage policy, but it's still a rip off.  $200 for 3 lbs. overweight seems extreme.

All things considered, it is what it is, but I wanted to mention it here.  Maybe I'm whining, but it's my $200 and I don't like it.

Should've removed 3 lbs from the bag and put it in the carry-on/purse/laptop bag. 

CaliFFL

I flew Southwest to Houston last Thursday and back home yesterday. I understand why SW is cheap. 4 travel legs and no food options, other than pretzels. Yesterday's aircraft was 15 years old with a ragged interior. There's no device charging ports even in the 737-800 MAX aircraft. They are forced to provide better customer service because they have nothing else to offer. 

CaliFFL

earlyagain said:

Any product or service provider that perceives that what they're selling has a captive consumer base. In other words consumers that see the product or service as an unavoidable necessity. Those providers feel free  gouge the consumer. Its actually part of the modern business model.

If the unregulated free market provides any form of consumer protection, I don't see it. I see instead just the opposite. In profusion with respect to air travel and pharmaceutical drugs as well as some other businesses of lesser renown.

If consumers took the time to read the purchase agreements PRIOR to buying a product,(you know, personal responsibility) they wouldn't plead for Uncle Sugar to regulate the service provider. They would/could choose a provider that best suits their needs. Or opt out entirely. This applies to everything. 

ilove22s

sorry to hear about the fee.

im not sure of the details of your flight and luggage, but if any of you plan to travel more in the future, you may want to look at packing less.

sometimes its unavoidable such as for work, but if that was the case, im sure your job would be picking up the bill, not you.

again, bring less would go along way until the airlines start charing for all luggage, air, toilet use and any other thing they can get away with to make more $$$.

for what its worth, i travel outside of the USA for vacation 1month at a time and my 50L pack is in the ~18 lb range when i start.  After a while i will pickup souvenirs but i will consolidate them and ship them back home. Im sure the domestic flights have different fee and weight schedule for luggage, but try to cut back on what you bring.

earlyagain

CaliFFL said:

earlyagain said:

Any product or service provider that perceives that what they're selling has a captive consumer base. In other words consumers that see the product or service as an unavoidable necessity. Those providers feel free  gouge the consumer. Its actually part of the modern business model.

If the unregulated free market provides any form of consumer protection, I don't see it. I see instead just the opposite. In profusion with respect to air travel and pharmaceutical drugs as well as some other businesses of lesser renown.

If consumers took the time to read the purchase agreements PRIOR to buying a product,(you know, personal responsibility) they wouldn't plead for Uncle Sugar to regulate the service provider. They would/could choose a provider that best suits their needs. Or opt out entirely. This applies to everything. 

How we know they don't???
It seems to me that captive consumer base speaks for itself. I do agree that uncle sugar provides too much corporate protection.

JerryBobCo

ILove22s, telling my wife to pack less isn't always productive.

A friend made some cookies for her to bring back, and they probably accounted for the additional 3 lbs.  We were kidding today about those being the most expensive free cookies we're ever had.

As for taking stuff out, there were lots of people in line behind her, the suitcase had a lock on it, and she was somewhat flustered at the whole series of events.  I'm sure no one in this august forum has ever been that way before.

CaliFFL

earlyagain said:

CaliFFL said:

earlyagain said:

Any product or service provider that perceives that what they're selling has a captive consumer base. In other words consumers that see the product or service as an unavoidable necessity. Those providers feel free  gouge the consumer. Its actually part of the modern business model.

If the unregulated free market provides any form of consumer protection, I don't see it. I see instead just the opposite. In profusion with respect to air travel and pharmaceutical drugs as well as some other businesses of lesser renown.

If consumers took the time to read the purchase agreements PRIOR to buying a product,(you know, personal responsibility) they wouldn't plead for Uncle Sugar to regulate the service provider. They would/could choose a provider that best suits their needs. Or opt out entirely. This applies to everything. 

How we know they don't???
It seems to me that captive consumer base speaks for itself. I do agree that uncle sugar provides too much corporate protection.

Please define "captive consumer base". Airlines are not the same as utilities, if that's what you are inferring. 

10canyon53

CaliFFL said:

I flew Southwest to Houston last Thursday and back home yesterday. I understand why SW is cheap. 4 travel legs and no food options, other than pretzels. Yesterday's aircraft was 15 years old with a ragged interior. There's no device charging ports even in the 737-800 MAX aircraft. They are forced to provide better customer service because they have nothing else to offer. 

4 travel legs?!!!  Sounds like you need to plan your flights better.  I fly Southwest all over the lower 48 and never have more than 2 legs......it's all in the planning.  Even Orlando to Irvine is only two legs.  I fly to Houston regularly and it is always non-stop direct from Orlando.  Southwest was started about 45 years ago as a no frills, low cost airline and they have stayed true to their roots.  They are also the 5th largest airline on the planet, and that is with only a handful of routes outside the continental U.S. recently added when they bought out AirTran.  If you were on an old plane, it was probably a spare being used while a newer one was down for maintenance.  I fly with them all the time and I rarely get an old one.  They have the world's largest fleet of 737's.  Another fun fact:  they have posted a profit every quarter for the last 30+ years......even after 9/11 when all the other airlines were crying that they were going out of business and needing a bailout from Uncle Sam.  If they can do that while still being competitive, not charging fees, and keeping a good safety record?  That is a well run airline.  (Yes, I know, they do not have a perfect safety record, but it is still one of the best.)  All that aside, the main reason I fly with them is leg room.  I am 6'4" and I do not fit in the seats of the other airlines.  Southwest has a little more leg room.

earlyagain

CaliFFL said:

earlyagain said:

CaliFFL said:

earlyagain said:

Any product or service provider that perceives that what they're selling has a captive consumer base. In other words consumers that see the product or service as an unavoidable necessity. Those providers feel free  gouge the consumer. Its actually part of the modern business model.

If the unregulated free market provides any form of consumer protection, I don't see it. I see instead just the opposite. In profusion with respect to air travel and pharmaceutical drugs as well as some other businesses of lesser renown.

If consumers took the time to read the purchase agreements PRIOR to buying a product,(you know, personal responsibility) they wouldn't plead for Uncle Sugar to regulate the service provider. They would/could choose a provider that best suits their needs. Or opt out entirely. This applies to everything. 

How we know they don't???
It seems to me that captive consumer base speaks for itself. I do agree that uncle sugar provides too much corporate protection.

Please define "captive consumer base". Airlines are not the same as utilities, if that's what you are inferring. 

There's only so many air lines. Take it or leave it approaches the area of take and like it or don't fly. The price in money is somewhat understandable. Some of the rest can randomly become unconscionable.

Gila

The only way I can see to fix this is to purchase refundable tickets, show up with over weight luggage, and cancel when hit with the luggage fee.  Of course it will take enough passengers doing this to cost them serious money on their half empty aircraft.

coolgunguy

I don't fly often, and I'm not going to pretend I have "the" answer... but the problem isn't YOU.

The problem is YOU, and YOU, and YOU... I think you're getting the drift.  The fee is borderline excessive, but the airline probably feels it HAS to be, because people will take advantage everything they can, as often as they can.  A 3 - 5 lb. cushion would be great, but then most - if not all - would exploit that cushion early and often.  Having dealt with the public my entire professional life, I'm not optimistic that Joe Sixpack wouldn't show up with a bag that is 6lbs over (or 7, or 8) and loudly and forcefully state his case that "it's only" and decry the unfairness of it all.  A graduated scale sounds great, until you factor in "human" and realize that EVERYBODY will be coming in hot and heavy "because it's only $20", or whatever.  

Since we can figure that most everybody travels heavy, why not graduate the tickets the other way?  Charge the surcharge up front, with an allowable max luggage weight that is as inviolable as the laws of physics, but allow discounts for folks who travel lighter... say $50 for luggage that's 10 - 20 lbs under max, $100 for 21 - 30 lbs under,  etc?  This would be an incentive to travel lighter and it would remove most of the angst involved as well. 

Make_My_Day

I have not been on an airplane since 1990, and I have no intention of flying anywhere unless it was an absolute emergency. Airlines, TSA, Homeland Security can stick it up their collective **** Flying used to be a pleasure and I always looked forward to it, but these days it's nothing but a necessary evil for some people.

CaliFFL

10canyon53 said:

CaliFFL said:

I flew Southwest to Houston last Thursday and back home yesterday. I understand why SW is cheap. 4 travel legs and no food options, other than pretzels. Yesterday's aircraft was 15 years old with a ragged interior. There's no device charging ports even in the 737-800 MAX aircraft. They are forced to provide better customer service because they have nothing else to offer. 

4 travel legs?!!!  Sounds like you need to plan your flights better.  I fly Southwest all over the lower 48 and never have more than 2 legs......it's all in the planning.  Even Orlando to Irvine is only two legs.  I fly to Houston regularly and it is always non-stop direct from Orlando.  Southwest was started about 45 years ago as a no frills, low cost airline and they have stayed true to their roots.  They are also the 5th largest airline on the planet, and that is with only a handful of routes outside the continental U.S. recently added when they bought out AirTran.  If you were on an old plane, it was probably a spare being used while a newer one was down for maintenance.  I fly with them all the time and I rarely get an old one.  They have the world's largest fleet of 737's.  Another fun fact:  they have posted a profit every quarter for the last 30+ years......even after 9/11 when all the other airlines were crying that they were going out of business and needing a bailout from Uncle Sam.  If they can do that while still being competitive, not charging fees, and keeping a good safety record?  That is a well run airline.  (Yes, I know, they do not have a perfect safety record, but it is still one of the best.)  All that aside, the main reason I fly with them is leg room.  I am 6'4" and I do not fit in the seats of the other airlines.  Southwest has a little more leg room.

4 travel legs total. 2 each way. Almost nothing flies east direct from Spokane, WA. The only reason I chose SW was to meet a family member at Hobby. Alaska Air only services Bush. Didn't want to drive across the entirety of Houston.  

CaliFFL

alphasigmookie said:

I could be wrong, but I think the overweight bag has something to do with OSHA regarding the baggage handlers (although the exorbitant fee is just the airline making an extra buck). 

OSHA is part of it, but the FAA sets a weight standard for luggage. The weight estimate is factored into the limits for the aircraft, fuel economy, etc. This gets critical when flying in the smaller regional aircraft. Ever sit on an EMB135? It is a 1X2 craft. The attendant will put the heavier passengers on the single row (with the over head luggage) and the thinner people on the double row. Literally balancing the craft. 

Varmintmist

I dont fly a lot anymore, but when you get your ticket it is stated up front that the max is XX and more than XX will create charges.

When I took the fam on a trip, the wife and I flew 1st class and packed the chillins in steerage. We took 3 bags between the wife and I and the spawn had carry on only.

When that hasnt been feasible, you take crap out of the bag until it meets the requirements. Simple solutions to simple problems..

zorba

CaliFFL said:

I flew Southwest to Houston last Thursday and back home yesterday. I understand why SW is cheap. 4 travel legs and no food options, other than pretzels. Yesterday's aircraft was 15 years old with a ragged interior. There's no device charging ports even in the 737-800 MAX aircraft. They are forced to provide better customer service because they have nothing else to offer. 

And that's all I need - a cheap way to get from A to B. I couldn't possibly give a rolling red rat's rump about whether or not the plane has charging ports for "devices", and I bring my own food onto the plane. I'll fly American or Delta when I have an overriding reason to do so, but I'd rather ride a bike across the north Atlantic than to ever fly United again.

We used to fly Continental until they got swallowed up by United, then we switched to SW and have been happy. I like the "sit anywhere", I pay an extra $12.50 to get early boarding so I can get an aisle seat in row 2 or 3. That gets me OFF the plane while the unloaders unload their overseas bags from the thrice damned overhead bins.

CaliFFL

zorba said:

CaliFFL said:

I flew Southwest to Houston last Thursday and back home yesterday. I understand why SW is cheap. 4 travel legs and no food options, other than pretzels. Yesterday's aircraft was 15 years old with a ragged interior. There's no device charging ports even in the 737-800 MAX aircraft. They are forced to provide better customer service because they have nothing else to offer. 

And that's all I need - a cheap way to get from A to B. I couldn't possibly give a rolling red rat's rump about whether or not the plane has charging ports for "devices", and I bring my own food onto the plane. I'll fly American or Delta when I have an overriding reason to do so, but I'd rather ride a bike across the north Atlantic than to ever fly United again.

We used to fly Continental until they got swallowed up by United, then we switched to SW and have been happy. I like the "sit anywhere", I pay an extra $12.50 to get early boarding so I can get an aisle seat in row 2 or 3. That gets me OFF the plane while the unloaders unload their overseas bags from the thrice damned overhead bins.

Last Thursday I flew from Spokane to Denver. Sat on the plane for an hour while they unloaded and reloaded with Denver-Houston passengers. The entire event was almost seven hours. The turkey sandwich didn't last that long, but I learned something. Next time I fly Greyhound in the Sky, I'll bring several meals. I bet I can sell the excess to the starving bastard sitting next to me. 

While I understand YOUR lack of need for charging ports, the rest of civilization relies on USB ports for laptops and phones. I carry a laptop because I'm still a wage slave, and I can bust out some work in the seven hours and not have to be swamped upon returning to work. 

Jayhawker

Wife just flew in from San Diego on Tuesday with a plane swap in Minneapolis...supposed to be in Grand Rapids by 1530....But...she arrives in Minneapolis to discover her plane there but the crew was in the air somewhere between Atlanta and Minneapolis...crew finally arrived and the damn plane sits on the ramp for another hour to be deiced...again...she finally landed in GR about 1830, just as the area was slammed by another blizzard...
It normally takes about an hour to get from our place to the airport....four hours later we pulled into our driveway.
We have come to an agreement that there will be no more flying during the winter months...

zorba

CaliFFL said:

Last Thursday I flew from Spokane to Denver. Sat on the plane for an hour while they unloaded and reloaded with Denver-Houston passengers. The entire event was almost seven hours. The turkey sandwich didn't last that long, but I learned something. Next time I fly Greyhound in the Sky, I'll bring several meals. I bet I can sell the excess to the starving bastard sitting next to me. 

While I understand YOUR lack of need for charging ports, the rest of civilization relies on USB ports for laptops and phones. I carry a laptop because I'm still a wage slave, and I can bust out some work in the seven hours and not have to be swamped upon returning to work. 

That 1 hour Charlie Foxtrot of unloading and reloading could have been cut down to 20 minutes if the airlines would do away with those damn overhead bins. As for laptops - carry an extra battery, that's what I've done in the past. I don't expect anybody to cater to my computer and certainly not to any "devices".