A concern for us travelers and I encourage you to check out American Airlines new policy to start on June 15, 2008
I have just read this article:
American Airlines to begin charging for first checked bag
While, knowing the stand of airlines when it comes to customer service, I'm not overly surprised (note there was another recent Yahoo article talking about the dismal state of airlines when it comes to customer service:
Customers give airlines their worst grade since 2001 in customer service
it doesn't become any less astounding an airline would try this tactic. How many people are not going to travel with at least one bag? I just emailed American letting them know this was an incredibly poor decision on their part. If you agree, I urge you to do the same. My hope would be that either they will back off or that they can be the lone airline to do this. I am next going to email my hometown airline, Northwest (soon to be Delta) and urge them to not follow the lead.
I also would love to hear any thoughts from others...
Reply to this Airlines charging for checked in luggage seems to be the new thing. 😞
Aerlingus have been charging for all checked in bags for the last year. When I fly to Ireland with them I dont check any bags in at all. It costs 8 Euros per bag to check them in.
Mel
Reply to this I think this stinks. It already costs soooo much to fly, and now they're finding every opportunity to tack on additional fees. I am glad, at least, that it appears they are not assessing that first-baggage charge for international flights. That's "something," I guess.
Reply to this It's really a way to put a $30 fare increase onto tickets without making it look like they're doing so online when people shop at Travelocity or wherever. I guess it won't dramatically affect this trip for me, and indeed you can just not check bags but use only carryon. Of course, most savvy travelers that can will do the same thing - which will make the flight all that much worse. The airline industry has got to be one of the most dysfunctional industries in the US, if not the world. I cannot think of other industries that treat their customers so poorly and get away with it. In my humble opinion, it's because partly people will just endure because they want to go somewhere, and the fact there's too much supply and keeps getting that level of supply supported through government subsidies (among other tactics). What happens is with too much supply, of course, airlines have to fight one another on price and we then have probably unrealistically low prices, hence airlines do everything they can to raise money other ways or cut costs/service - hence a bad customer service experience. In my (former) industry of hotels, we simply don't get away with nearly the level of poor customer service the airlines do (don't get me wrong, it's there, but hotels have to do somewhat better because there's less of a bad monetary situation)
I'm not for wanting to pay higher fares, but if airlines were allowed to fail by the government (in other words, free market), the supply and demand would be in check and we would have less bad customer service.
In the meantime, learn to travel light and only with carry-on, right?
Reply to this Only taking carry on is easy when going to certain places.
Because of the liquids in hand luggage rules it would be a real pain when flying to other places. Luckily all the flights to all those destinations I have been on so far have free checking in of luggage. For example, one has to take things like suncream to places where is it not readily available.....
Reply to this Mell is absolutely right. That's the problem -- sure, I can get all my stuff into a single carryon when I'm flying domestically, but because of the carryon rules, I
have to check a bag just to be able to have the toiletries I need. So there's really no way of getting around it, even if I'm going somewhere where I can purchase all my toiletries again and then throw them out before the return trip -- that'll cost more than the $15 American wants to charge me to check the bag. SIGH.
Reply to this That's an excellent point I hadn't thought about from both Mel and Sharon. It's only $15 (well, each way so really $30), but it's just a point of continuing nickel and diming their customers - and then wonder why nobody likes to fly anymore. I agree on the SIGH...
Reply to this Guys, I agree with you...nothing worst than flying in the States...I live in Asia, and trust me, it's way better and smoother...but guess the level of service oyu have today in Asia....never did exist in the first place in the US...
Did a round-the-world 6 years ago with only a carry-on on the first 2/3 of my trip...that was fun...specially when they see your ticket and you show up without a big suitcase...
for the toileteries, if you get organize, you can go around with it....but i love my wine...and shop for it all over the world...guess that will be another story...
Reply to this Pierre, I hear from my grandparents perhaps mythical stories when airlines served full meals on china in regular class...or was it read some story online? I'd like to believe it wasn't always this bad...
The ironic part is that when it comes to service, most American industries are nearly falling over each other to serve the customer - except when it comes to airlines in the States. Again, in my "hotel working life", while there are some higher costs if you want to purchase stuff it's based on optional purchases where you freely choose some additional item and you're willing to pay for the convenience of the hotel providing it to you - and isn't something you really need. Hotels would never get away with the tactics the airlines are doing. Imagine if you purchased a non-refundable hotel room reservation online (most of the chains now have discounted rates if you purchase pre-pay and no-refund reservations) thinking you were going to be taken care of, but then got to the hotel and found out if you wanted towels in the room it would be an extra $10/day? There's lots of scenarios you could play out in hotels, retail stores, restaurants, etc.
Reply to this Hi Gary,
Believe me...you can still feel the sky is a dream place to be...did fly few times first class on Cathay...yes I know, completely spoiled...you do wake up from your bed wondering where you are...than you realise you are...on a plane...no kidding.
Would dream to fly the new double suite from Singapore Airline...there is one per Airbus 380....I mean the double bed...with nearly total privacy...and I'm not single anymore...but hey, the downturn, is that this is so new, that you can forget having a great deal on it...so guess I will wait a little longer....but that's more than a wishlist...
I'm top-tier frequent flyer on Cathay...and trust me, it's tuff to fault them...from nearly no limit on baggage allowance, to full bathroom with champagne at the airport ( you speak a top bath, champagne, and you flight in 25 minutes...), from being called by your name...and all that...well, most of the time I fly in the back...they are amazing!
For the hotel industry, you've got 2 roads to go...either hit the dirt cheap deal...or try to get as high as you can on a frequent guest program...and than...once again, it's a all different level of service...
Ok, I stop here...have to work today...and tomorrrow flying to Manila for some serious diving!
Reply to this Cathay sounds like a complete dream...I'm actually a pretty simple needs guy most of the time, though wouldn't object to anything you mention, especially if it's automatically included. I need to check out that airline's website!
I agree, you can do the full range of hotels...I worked for a Holiday Inn, which to be honest could be hit or miss (though mine was one of the good ones). That will (hopefully) change as the company that owns the chain is doing serious clean-up of the chain, including dumping about 1/3 of their hotels while building new ones on the new model as a replacement. By 2010, the lobbies in Holiday Inns will even be scented, plus things that you wouldn't expect in a HI such as satin type sheets and duvets, plus new soaps, etc. However, even your cheapie chains such as Motel 6 feel some pressure to offer service and value for whatever dollar you are spending. I'm not sure I see that so much in the American airlines (meaning the country here and not necessarily just the airline with that name). Oh, well...
Reply to this I agree with your comments...In Asia you've got a double model for the moment...low cost...pay for what you get...simple and easy...and than some of the best airlines in the world...get service, pay for it...and than...the middle, don't want to be political, but let say airlines without much of a customer service past...get cheaper airfare...but just don't touch the food on the plane...in the states...all that is gone...for years...
For the hotel industry, the great thing is that there is so much competition...that the customer do benefit from it...and with the recession in the States, we may soon find more reasonnable rates in cities like NY.
I know that HI has a big branding issue for the moment...they are kind of baby-boomers school time holidays souvenirs...and that's a tuff image to live with...
At the end of the day, the more competiton the best...and to come back on the 15usd charge for first luggage...it all depends if United follows...but they are all desparate for cash right now...
Reply to this I think you mostly hit it on the head all around. As mentioned, it's a lot because there's less safety net for the hotel industry from government subsidies they have to sink or swim (at least that's part of it). That said, you get serious competition and they have little choice but perform, and frankly I love it. The customer wins...
I think HI will be okay, but they do have a big image to work on. I actually like HI's for their history and whole "Americana" deal. I also like the direction they're going. If I had the money to own a hotel and franchise it, I would seriously consider HI. Who doesn't know HI? I also think when they finish their conversion process in early 2010, they will be a much better product. New hotels, renovated hotels, new lighting and "curb appeal" required, new customer service training required by the franchise agreements, and a new logo they're rolling out (no more cursive in the logo! Just a big "H" with a lighter, more modern green and a modern printed name "Holiday Inn". You'll have to keep a lookout in the coming year as they're starting already. In fact, hotels can't put up the new logo unless they pass all the new requirements so you can use that as a guide on the quality of the particular Holiday Inn). They seem pretty serious as they already kicked out a bunch of old hotels that won't perform to the new standards, will kick out more as they build new hotels, and they're expecting each hotel/franchise owner to invest somewhere around a minimum $250,000 in renovations (and could easily be a lot more depending on the hotel. The hotel I worked at spent over $1 million as it was time to renovate anyway - and will spend more to complete all the changes required).
Back to the airlines...I understand with $135/barrel oil it's tough on an industry that can't operate without that commodity. I just wish they'd be honest with their customers and raise fares on the front side when you buy the ticket versus doing it at the backside. I can only imagine what their poor ticket agents are going to have to endure when all the people who don't know about the change are told at check-in they need to shell out more cash. There's then the issue that check-in process will seem to be inevitably be slowed down because everyone is going to have to find cash or credit cards. It sounds like a complete nightmare experience.
Reply to this nobody likes to fly anymore
That is actually becomming true.
If I have a choice between taking a night train and flying in Europe I often choose the train if there is no big price difference. The train stations in Europe are also right in the middle of cities where I want to be while the airports are outside the cities and cost sometimes quite a lot to get to. Sometimes there is little or no convenience in flying over taking the train.
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