Furious About Fees

March 16, 2010

in Luggage Stories

Recently I flew with my daughter from San Jose to Dallas. It was my 2 week vacation to my brother’s place. Not knowing that American Airlines was charging me for luggage, I ended up paying $30 for my 2 bags. I was furious but could not do anything at the last moment. I just could not take it that I had to pay $$ for my luggage which is essential for 2 weeks for me and my 2 and 1/2 year old daughter, who by the way had her own seat. I was determined that I would not pay a cent more while returning. So I left some stuff at my brother’s place and carried 3 hand bags and my daughter with me in the cabin. It was pretty stressful for me to look after her and carry all the stuff with me.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Clare March 16, 2010 at 9:46 pm

Did it ever occur to you to either go online or call the airline beforehand and ask if they charged luggage fees instead of waiting until the last minute?

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Hugh March 16, 2010 at 11:47 pm

Was saving the money worth the hassle of juggling multiple bags and a child? Factor that in, and I doubt you svaed anything, but of course you made a nuisance of yourself to others sharing the limited overhead storage because YOU are too special to abide by rules.

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the logger March 17, 2010 at 12:24 am

Wait until the toll booths are installed in the jetways, and a pay toilet system is installed on all aircraft.

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mike March 17, 2010 at 1:12 am

Boy, I wish I only paid 30 bucks! I just flew from Memphis to St. John's, Nl, on Continental. My wife had a bag and I had a bag. Bang! fifty bucks!

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Jim March 17, 2010 at 4:54 am

1) Do you ever read the news, watch t.v., etc…? The baggage fees are not new…and, have been complained about for a very long time.

2) Travel with a 2 1/2 year old, by yourself, with tons of luggage? Really? Thanks for being so inconsiderate to subject the others on your plane to your poor choices.

3) Thanks for hogging the overhead bins from the other paying customers. Don't be so cheap…you paid several hundred bucks for your air fare…really what is another 30.00….I would think it would be worth it, to not have to juggle the kid and the luggage.

Selfish, Selfish.

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Aaron March 17, 2010 at 7:45 am

It surprised you that there were fees for checked luggage? Have you been in a cave for the last 2 years?

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Increasedosologist March 17, 2010 at 12:13 pm

Two words for you:

FedEx Ground.

Dirt cheap; delivered to your destination front door – no dragging around buses/cabs, no tipping; 3 day delivery to 99% of destinations in 48 states (5-7 days Alska/Hawai, also dirt cheap);trackable by tracking number from origin to destination; does not get lost, left in the rain, stolen from the carousels etc..

P.S. I do not work for them and have no reason to plug them other than that it’s the best solution to the luggage problems.

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Mrs. Kaulitz March 17, 2010 at 5:46 pm

Funny how nobody feels sorry for you.

I don't either. Luggage fees are a recent thing but certainly not new. You should have done the research before flying. I also don't think it was worth carrying all your luggage around to save $30 and inconveniencing everyone else with your probably cranky child and luggage bags taking up space.

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Andrew March 18, 2010 at 8:08 pm

I hate this, people complain about the cost of flying while the price of airfare hasn't gone up significantly in 20 years, at least not enough to keep up with inflation and rising costs. Take what you paid for your flight, double it, and then maybe flying and all the associated perks can go back to what they used to be.

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Paleface July 21, 2010 at 8:49 am

It's time to charge for carry on baggage instead of checked bags, IMO. Doing so may eliminate the delays that occur when folks are trying to stuff their bags in overhead compartment 4D, holding up everyone else, and then once they get the job done, they waddle down to their assigned seat, 33E. Drives me crazy.

That said, charging for bags 50+ pounds and the assorted "necessities" that certain people drag with them on trips should remain. I know of a chiropractor that can't leave town without his golf clubs, adjusting table, and his family (wife & 4 kids) going through security and lugging bags/backpacks like a herd of pack mules. Ridiculous.

There's my two cents' worth.

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