American Airlines to gouge passengers charge for most checked bags

by PegNews wire

Photo not provided by AMR

These t-shirts were handed out at the AMR shareholders meeting this morning.

And the hits just keep on coming... Less than a month after Fort Worth-based American Airlines announced that they were going to charge passengers $25 for a second checked bag, the carrier will now charge $15 for the first checked bag for all those who purchase "discounted coach fare tickets within the United States," whatever "discounted" means (of course -- wouldn't want to offend your first class passengers). Additionally, American announced that they are taking 85 airplanes out of service by the end of the year, meaning an 11-12 percent cut in actual flights.

The first bag fee will take effect for travel on June 15, although anyone who has already purchased tickets for that date or beyond is exempt from the policy. Both announcements were made during the annual AMR (American's parent company) meeting, which is currently being protested by both the pilots union and flight attendants union. After this, I might be staging a protest of my own.

Posted by Alex B.