American Airlines to Charge $15 for Checked Baggage

By Anastacia Mott Austin

As if the cramped quarters, no meals, shrinking leg room, and cranky flight attendants weren’t enough.

Now American Airlines has announced that it plans to start charging travelers a $15 fee for the first bag checked. This follows the implementation last year of a $25 charge for a second checked bag, which other airlines quickly adopted.

Citing fuel costs that are through the roof, American says it’s only doing this to try to offset huge losses in the airline industry over the past year of rising oil and gas prices.

With oil prices up about 80% over this time last year, airline industry executives say they have no choice. "Our company and industry simply cannot afford to sit by hoping for industry and market conditions to improve," said American’s CEO Gerard J. Arpey.

In other cost-cutting measures, American will retire some of its older, larger, less fuel-efficient planes, and has already raised fares, which it says has not helped enough.

The airline industry faces heavy losses in 2008, even with these measures. With soaring oil prices, American Airlines’ stock dipped 24% this week.

CEO Arpey appeared to have little sympathy for customers’ protests at the luggage fee. "While we understand that these fees affect customers," said Arpey in a press release, "we also believe that our pricing for the services we provide remains extremely competitive in the industry and continues to offer our customers ample choice and value."

Ample choice and value. Does he mean the ample choice between the $12 "snack" box containing a slice of cheese and a mini-Snickers, or the ginger ale you had to wrestle the flight attendant to the floor to be allowed to keep the whole can?

Critics of the measure say it will only ultimately cost in the long run, as people will undoubtedly try to cram everything they own into one tiny little carry-on, which will not fit the size or weight parameters. This means longer lines at the security counter when folks will be forced to unpack their bags to try to make them fit.

In addition, getting on the plane will take longer as each person tries to jam their bags into the overhead compartments. "This will lead to operational chaos at the airport," said Harry Harteveldt, a travel industry expert, to reporters.

Customers complain that they’re between a rock and a hard place when some items, such as sharp objects, razors, and larger containers of liquid must be checked.

The real kicker? American says it will not give a refund of the baggage fee if they lose your luggage.