Changes: Airline Check-in At Resorts

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The airline check-in at resorts is now limited to one bag per guest.
2) This is due to airline charges for more than one bag.
3) The check-in company (BAGS, Inc) can't collect the charges.
4) If you want more checked luggage, you must take them to airport and check them.

NOTE: It was discussed today that the airline check-in at WDW resorts will no longer accept ANY checked luggage for American Airlines, since the airline will charge $15 for the first checked bag.

[faline]

Looks like there's going to be lots more luggage on the buses which will slow down the process of disembarking at each airport location.

These airline changes will make it difficult to continue to offer this as a service!

[Ed]

NOTE: It was discussed today that the airline check-in at WDW resorts will no longer accept ANY checked luggage for American Airlines, since the airline will charge $15 for the first checked bag.

Are they nuts? Have they totally lost their senses?

Looks to me like AA is trying very hard to kill off their own once-proud largest airline in the country, one passenger at a time.

[Ed]

Did a little more research on this... here's what CNN has (emphasis added):

FORT WORTH — American Airlines, hit hard by escalating fuel prices, said Wednesday passengers will be hit with fees to check any bag, starting with tickets purchased after June 15.

American and its American Eagle subsidiary will also trim their fleets, cut their flight schedules and lay off workers in the coming months.

Speaking at the annual meeting of AMR Corporation, the parent company of both airlines, chairman, president and CEO Gerard Arpey said travelers would face a $15 charge for the first piece of luggage checked, the first time any major domestic airline has used this method to increase revenue.

Delta doesn't plan to match American's fee for the first checked bag, airline spokeswoman Betsy Talton said.

"These are difficult but necessary steps," Arpey said, noting that rising oil prices have inflated the airline's annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billiion since the start of the year.

American recently instituted a $25 fee for second bags checked after a free first bag. Arpey said other passenger fees will be increased, including surcharges for pets and for unaccompanied minors.

Also on Wednesday, Arpey said AMR planned to cut its domestic capacity by up to 12 percent by retiring 40 to 45 American Airlines jets and 30 to 35 American Eagle aircraft starting in the fourth quarter. Some of the planes will be retired; others will be parked at a desert storage facility.

Arpey said fewer flights will lead to job cuts at both American and American Eagle. The number of workers facing layoffs was not announced.

AMR shares tumbled $1.10, or 13.4 percent , to $7.10 after the announcement which came as its shareholders gathered for their annual meeting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looks like slow-motion corporate suicide to me.

[Aurora]

Whoa.

I don't get the $15 per bag charge. Why don't they just tack the charge onto the airline ticket? Their fares aren't any lower than other airlines to broadcast charges like this.

I'm looking into my crystal ball and I don't like what I see....

[thrillme]

I guess I'm DONE with American. The second bag charge was one thing the charge to check ONE bag is nutz. I guess everybody is expected to take "carry ons".

I figure if you can pack down to ONLY one bag for a week...that's still going to be $30 because you'll have to bring the bag back. I can't feasibly see a family of 4 packing only ONE bag.

It seems like it almost be cheaper to pack your "unmentionables" and swimsuit in a carry on and stop by the Goodwill (thrift store) and buy enough for the week. Drop the clothes off at Goodwill on the way back.

[dudeman1975]

What a shame to charge for carrying a bag. Maybe they want to attract the business class people who just use carry on.

[wdwnomad]

I think BAGS is going to have to come up with a plan to start being able to collect money or else they are going to have to stop offering remote check-in service. Most airlines are now charging for the second bag so they are losing passengers there. Now American is charging for all bags so there goes all of the American customers. I wouldn't be suprised if other airlines follow shortly with this so there goes those customers as well.

The only airline that doesn't charge for more than two bags is Southwest but they don't even participate in the remote check-in service.

[Tink#64]

1) The airline check-in at resorts is now limited to one bag per guest.
2) This is due to airline charges for more than one bag.
3) The check-in company (BAGS, Inc) can't collect the charges.
4) If you want more checked luggage, you must take them to airport and check them.

NOTE: It was discussed today that the airline check-in at WDW resorts will no longer accept ANY checked luggage for American Airlines, since the airline will charge $15 for the first checked bag.

OK, I'm confused! I thought this was only AA, we usually fly Delta, & this year we drove for the first time. We usually have 2 bags per person! My gosh, what a pain! So we would check half our luggage with BAGS & have to haul the other half with us to the airport to check? I didn't know that other airlines (we haven't flown for 2 years now) where following suit on this. If the others aren't, then why should everyone else be inconvenienced?

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I didn't know that other airlines (we haven't flown for 2 years now) where following suit on this. If the others aren't, then why should everyone else be inconvenienced? . . .

1) Most airlines automatically charge for a 2nd checked bag per person.
2) They usually don't charge for 1st Class or Business Elite passengers.
3) BAGS, Inc can't collect the extra charges or over weight (50#) bags.*
4) So, you must do it at the airport.

* Each bag already is weighed at the resort airline check-in. If it is overweight, they will not check the bag and you must take it with you to the airport on DME.

[BMan62]

I can see the laundry facilities at the resorts getting busier - people will bring one set of clothing in a carry-on and switch with the clothes they wear on the plane. At the end of each day, they will do a load of laundry so that they have clean for the next day.

My boss did this - not because he wanted to, but because the airline he flew to Hawaii lost his, and his whole family's) luggage! He said it actually worked out well.

[TheRustyScupper]

My boss did this - not because he wanted to, but because the airline he flew to Hawaii lost his, and his whole family's) luggage! He said it actually worked out well.

1) We haven't taken more than one WDW carryon per person in years.
2) It really does work out quite well.

[JPL]

I can see carry-on luggage starting to push the limits with people trying to buy bigger bags they can fit more in. I picture a 5 year old with a carry-on bigger than the child

[sillyolbear]

I can understand why AA is making this change and can also understand the reason for not just upping every ticket by $15.

The people I feel sorry for are the flight attendants. They'll be the one's having to deal with all the issues as they face the pressure of trying to get the cabin ready for an on-time push back.

[KylesMom]

I had this discussion with DH this morning - since we go for an extended period of time (and I don't do laundry on vacation!), we're going to take three checked bags & ensure that any of our carry-on bags are within airline specs - I'm sure they're going to get much tighter in making sure your carry-ons are within the proper dimensions! But instead of a shoulder-type gym bag & a backpack that we usually use as carry-ons, we'll be taking our small rolling bags. We LOVE using the airline checkin at the resort and don't want to lose this benefit!

[Gottaluvgoof]

I fly Southwest, so I guess it doesn't effect me. We always have to take our own luggage anyway. I do think the security check points at the airports are going to be extremely busy now, with most people wanting to carry on, instead of paying the fees for checking.

[2Epcot]

Whoa.

I don't get the $15 per bag charge. Why don't they just tack the charge onto the airline ticket? Their fares aren't any lower than other airlines to broadcast charges like this.

I agree, I think they loose more customers by adding the first bag fee, then just by adding the $15 to the ticket price.

I fly Southwest, so I guess it doesn't effect me. We always have to take our own luggage anyway.

I'm also a Southwest flyer. I think I've flown American only once, years ago, also United and Delta sometimes, but Southwest gets me where I need to go most of the time.

[Nascfan]

1) We haven't taken more than one WDW carryon per person in years.
2) It really does work out quite well.

I fail to understand this. One carryon for a vacation? You don't wear contacts do you? The saline and/or cleaning solution alone would be over the liquid limit. What deodorant do you use? I think pretty close to all of those are over 3 ounces also. I just can't fathom not having a checked bag for a vacation.

[TheRustyScupper]

I picture a 5 year old with a carry-on bigger than the child .

I think I saw this kid last week on a flight from DC to Orlando.

[MegaDisney]

As someone who works "in the industry" be prepared for more changes/charges like this.

For example:

British Airways only allows pre-assigned seating on FULL fare tickets.

US Airways now charges a premium for pre-assigned window or aisle seating. They are also getting rid of "snacks" and have food for purchase.

Northwest no longer offers snacks, food for purchase only.

Many airlines now charge for the second and third bag.

Many airlines now charge a "fuel surcharge" as part of your ticket price.

As the cost of oil continues to rise we can expect more and more of these "surcharges"