Comments on: That’s what’s happening to my AA baggage fees! http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephen - NYC http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14800 Stephen - NYC Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:56:10 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14800 I hate naming rights as well as the idea of an 'official' this or that of any company or organization. If you are going to be the official airline of some organization, it would mean something to me if there was an unbiased analysis that determined you were the best. But since it's only a marketing gimmick, I will go out of my way to NOT use your product or service. Already AA has the naming rights to a theater in Times Square. And if I looked harder, I am sure I would see their name on a field or stadium or event. And if you are a fan of whatever team, do you buy products JUST BECAUSE a company is the sponsor (or more accurately, the john) of the stadium? Think about it. You are saying that even if that john made the worst razors or was the worst bank, you'd still buy their stuff. It's another story if you were already banking with the john of the mets, and they paid the money for the naming rights. I wouldn't expect you to drop 'em just because of it. But if they changed the terms of your banking account and you decided to leave, would you go to the john that names the nyc marathon? I won't. As for baggage fees paying for it all, it's like all of our government accounts, one big fund. Money goes in, money goes to supporters. No one ever said that baggage fees were explicitly going to pay for just the fuel. I hate naming rights as well as the idea of an ‘official’ this or that of any company or organization. If you are going to be the official airline of some organization, it would mean something to me if there was an unbiased analysis that determined you were the best. But since it’s only a marketing gimmick, I will go out of my way to NOT use your product or service. Already AA has the naming rights to a theater in Times Square. And if I looked harder, I am sure I would see their name on a field or stadium or event.
And if you are a fan of whatever team, do you buy products JUST BECAUSE a company is the sponsor (or more accurately, the john) of the stadium? Think about it. You are saying that even if that john made the worst razors or was the worst bank, you’d still buy their stuff.
It’s another story if you were already banking with the john of the mets, and they paid the money for the naming rights. I wouldn’t expect you to drop ‘em just because of it. But if they changed the terms of your banking account and you decided to leave, would you go to the john that names the nyc marathon? I won’t.
As for baggage fees paying for it all, it’s like all of our government accounts, one big fund. Money goes in, money goes to supporters. No one ever said that baggage fees were explicitly going to pay for just the fuel.

]]> By: Neal http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14795 Neal Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:55:25 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14795 Why is it that other airlines like Southwest can fly your baggage with you at no charge and still make a profit, and be the number 1 domestic passenger carrier. Yet these other money grubbing carriers with over paid workers with unions that syphon companies dry for b.s. rights don't care about you. Southwest makes their passengers feel wanted and enjoy a great flight. While the others treat you with disrespect and like you are annoying them. The majors nickel and dime you to death, and don't do anything to enhance their service except leave you on the tarmac. They do this with the huge money the lobby in D.C.. If they could only think outside the box and use some of this money to enhance their product rather that cover it up with hush money in Congress to let them keep doing us wrong. Personally, I don't care who is sponsoring a team. I am no more loyal to a product, unless it's the right price, and does the job it represents. However, I am a true sports fan of my teams (which is also a product), and don't flip flop when they are losing. Why is it that other airlines like Southwest can fly your baggage with you at no charge and still make a profit, and be the number 1 domestic passenger carrier. Yet these other money grubbing carriers with over paid workers with unions that syphon companies dry for b.s. rights don’t care about you. Southwest makes their passengers feel wanted and enjoy a great flight. While the others treat you with disrespect and like you are annoying them. The majors nickel and dime you to death, and don’t do anything to enhance their service except leave you on the tarmac. They do this with the huge money the lobby in D.C.. If they could only think outside the box and use some of this money to enhance their product rather that cover it up with hush money in Congress to let them keep doing us wrong. Personally, I don’t care who is sponsoring a team. I am no more loyal to a product, unless it’s the right price, and does the job it represents. However, I am a true sports fan of my teams (which is also a product), and don’t flip flop when they are losing.

]]> By: Lucas http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14787 Lucas Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:04:06 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14787 Frankly, these two aspects of AA's operations are completely unrelated and it appears that the author simply wanted an opportunity to complain about baggage charges. As someone who rarely checked bags even before airlines starting charging for it, I was delighted when fees were introduced that allowed me to stop subsidizing those people who can't pack efficiently. This is partly in jest, in that I recognize that traveling families have different needs than I do, but the point remains. Baggage charges are not a "hidden cost". They represent the "unhiding" of a cost that we've always paid. If airlines didn't charge for baggage, they would have to charge even more for seats, meaning that those of us who know how to pack would be stuck footing the bill for everyone else. I only wish there were a more effective mechanism to charge for carry-on bags as well, and that airlines would enforce and define clearly the 1 carry-on + personal item rule. Frankly, these two aspects of AA’s operations are completely unrelated and it appears that the author simply wanted an opportunity to complain about baggage charges.

As someone who rarely checked bags even before airlines starting charging for it, I was delighted when fees were introduced that allowed me to stop subsidizing those people who can’t pack efficiently. This is partly in jest, in that I recognize that traveling families have different needs than I do, but the point remains.

Baggage charges are not a “hidden cost”. They represent the “unhiding” of a cost that we’ve always paid. If airlines didn’t charge for baggage, they would have to charge even more for seats, meaning that those of us who know how to pack would be stuck footing the bill for everyone else.

I only wish there were a more effective mechanism to charge for carry-on bags as well, and that airlines would enforce and define clearly the 1 carry-on + personal item rule.

]]> By: DaveS http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14778 DaveS Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:28:38 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14778 I don't see any connection between baggage fees and signing on to sponsor sports teams. This is marketing, not charity - they obviously believe the advertising value of the association is economically profitable or they wouldn't do it. So you're saying that since they have instituted baggage fees they shouldn't be doing advertising anymore? I don't get it. I don’t see any connection between baggage fees and signing on to sponsor sports teams. This is marketing, not charity – they obviously believe the advertising value of the association is economically profitable or they wouldn’t do it. So you’re saying that since they have instituted baggage fees they shouldn’t be doing advertising anymore? I don’t get it.

]]> By: todez http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14775 todez Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:18:09 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14775 I can't wait to see what happens when fuel prices go up again! They'll find some other excuse to raise prices on all fronts. HEY! Are there any airline execs out there listening??? When you decide to care about me more than your bottom line, you will have a lifetime customer! Make it so! Get 'er done! I can’t wait to see what happens when fuel prices go up again! They’ll find some other excuse to raise prices on all fronts.

HEY! Are there any airline execs out there listening??? When you decide to care about me more than your bottom line, you will have a lifetime customer! Make it so! Get ‘er done!

]]> By: Frank http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14766 Frank Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:23:04 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14766 While this is all marketing and designed to attract a certain segment of the population to American Airlines or to heighten the awareness for others of the places American serves, I’m wondering if not having the fees and increasing customer service might, in fact, have the same effect. What do you think? ==================================================== Doesnt "advertising and marketing" pay the owners of this site? Or should they make this a PAY SITE and have the customer pay for the privilege of reading articles? Or should they do it for free? Those Marketing dollars will bring in millions of dollars in Revenue. The old saying, you have to spend money to make it. Sponsoring a team, or say, a Nascar driver is huge in benefits. Fans will pay huge to support their teams via their sponsors. In retrospect, American Airlines does give back to the community: http://www.nflalumninoca.org/Membership.html http://www.icaf.org/news/newsfiles/200809100001.html http://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/press/pressreleases/2009/american-airlines-rallies-for-the-jimmy-fund.html http://auction01.charitybuzz.com/area.do?id=842 http://miledonor.com/news/?art_key=58 http://www.torringtonrotary.org/pdf/09golfbrochure.pdf While this is all marketing and designed to attract a certain segment of the population to American Airlines or to heighten the awareness for others of the places American serves, I’m wondering if not having the fees and increasing customer service might, in fact, have the same effect. What do you think?
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Doesnt “advertising and marketing” pay the owners of this site? Or should they make this a PAY SITE and have the customer pay for the privilege of reading articles? Or should they do it for free?
Those Marketing dollars will bring in millions of dollars in Revenue. The old saying, you have to spend money to make it. Sponsoring a team, or say, a Nascar driver is huge in benefits. Fans will pay huge to support their teams via their sponsors.

In retrospect, American Airlines does give back to the community:

http://www.nflalumninoca.org/Membership.html

http://www.icaf.org/news/newsfiles/200809100001.html

http://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/press/pressreleases/2009/american-airlines-rallies-for-the-jimmy-fund.html

http://auction01.charitybuzz.com/area.do?id=842

http://miledonor.com/news/?art_key=58

http://www.torringtonrotary.org/pdf/09golfbrochure.pdf

]]> By: Floost http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/that%e2%80%99s-what%e2%80%99s-happening-to-my-aa-baggage-fees/comment-page-1/#comment-14764 Floost Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:31:45 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=18029#comment-14764 In truth, immediately i didn't understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear. In truth, immediately i didn’t understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.

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