I think the scenarios the CF listed in the initial post are all likely possibilities due to this new fee. If it was just included in the fare we wouldn’t have to worry about running out of overhead space, fights around gate-checked baggage, longer lines at TSA, etc., etc.

I’m crossing my fingers that either (a) AA realizes how poor an idea this is and rescinds the fee and/or (b) none of the others follow suit.

-MJT

I think it’s a safe bet that the GDSs don’t support this, but the airlines could still be like Air Canada and make it work on their website, at the very least. One of these days, maybe the GDSs will figure out that their systems are so archaic that they no longer serve the customers.

Now the problem in the US comes down to would the GDSs as they’re constituted now support this? I’m no expert on them but I’d say no, at least not clearly. You’d have to have some fare class that doesn’t include it. However almost nobody reads the fine print on their fare class, and getting all of the various sellers to support it would be tough.

Now if the airlines could selectively release those fares to sellers that support that (Or even better, just sell them on their website.) this would be a boon.

Jetstar Airways in Australia is sort of doing the same thing as AA.

However, it is being a little more PR conscious.

Its ‘normal’ fares are going up, but it has introduced a Jetstar ‘light’ fare for cabin baggage only at a lower rate by about $20. ie you pay extra if you have a checked in bag – but they make it look like a discount for a cabin bag only. LOL.

I suppose winter flights and business flights mean people have a bulk of clothing to carry.

However, I never cease to be amazed by the size of luggage that some people carry.

Summer holiday travel should easily be able to be limited to cabin baggage.

I know that it is a matter of opinion what people should take – but when people take half their stuff ‘just in case’ they need it, and they are going to places where they could buy the stuff ‘if they ever need it’ and then they cart the stuff back cos ‘they didn’t need it after all’ I scratch my head.

When you work out that you could save twenty pounds per passenger times say one hundred – that’s a ton of payload not carried – and a lot of fuel also not needed to be used or carried.

Odds are NW is making money on that YYC route and losing on the DFW. I’m perfectly fine with the price I pay going to Calgary, but think it makes zero business sense to turn around and lose it on the Dallas one. If you can’t make money flying somewhere – don’t.

The Avg two hour flight needs about $50-60 per pax to cover gas these days. The Avg Transcon needs about $110 per pax.

So, to cover all other costs, pay for the pilot contracts, and make a little bit to appease investors and to internally reinvest in the product, the two hr flight needs to price out over $200. The Transcon over $350.

So let’s see….CHI-HOU’s cheapest price is $119 and LAX-BWI is at $99.

this is a problem….this is not modestly raising fares.

We don’t need cheaper fares. What we need is fares that reflect the cost of doing business, and the cut in capacity that will cause a reduction in air traffic congestion and hence overall better service. I can only see that happening with less competition, not more.