AA....Fees for tickets.

[sail7seas]

Received this in an e-mail today.

Thank you for your business. To help us continue to offer high value and effectively compete in a fiercely competitive marketplace, American Airlines and American Eagle(R) will implement a $5 service fee for those tickets purchased via our U.S. reservations centers and a $10 fee for tickets purchased at U.S. airport locations. There is no booking fee for self-booking and ticketing on AA.com(R).

Effective Monday, September 6, 2004, the non-refundable fee will apply per ticket, whether it is one-way or roundtrip, and also will apply to tickets redeemed as AAdvantage(R) program awards.

These steps are necessary to ensure that we can compete effectively in a marketplace where charging fees for personalized, value-added services is becoming a common practice. Low-cost carriers often charge a fee on tickets issued with the help of their reservations center or airport staff.

We appreciate your business and your continuing loyalty to American Airlines.


Sincerely,

Dan Garton
Executive Vice President - Marketing




************************************************** ***************

[xpcdoojk]

Got that too. Wondering if you book through an internet TA like Travelocity if they will get the extra $5 charge, it may make it desireable to use AA.com.

jc

[Debi_D]

I am a flight attendant for AA and yes it would be cheaper and will elimate the fee if you book direct on line though AA.com....AA is trying very hard to compete with airlines such as Southwest and especially JetBlue.....AA has downsized by elimating many jobs:( :(

The online purchase is very easy and the new check-in services at the airport has really elimated long lines and once you get use to it it takes almost no time to get though the checkin....

Deb

[xpcdoojk]

Hi Debi D

We are flying A eagle to Chicago and then on AA Sept 14 to London, England. I have done the online check-in and printed boarding passes before when I was flying in the states and when I didn't have any luggage to check. Can I check in for the international flight and all on AA.com and then just take my luggage to the luggage check and skip the counter at the airport?

Thanks

jc

[jhannah]

The Travelocity fee is what Travelocity charges. This new AA fee is on top of that. I have booked directly with airline websites for quite a while when they can offer the best price. Sometimes, however, it's still been cheaper to go to Travelocity or Orbitz to get the ticket ... even with their $10 fee. The main advantage to me of going direct with the airline website is being able to then print my boarding pass at home and head right for the gate once I arrive at the airport, and not have to stand in line to check in once I'm there.

[sail7seas]

What about if you are traveling with luggage you need to check, Jim?

[akeka]

I'm not Jim, but I can answer about checking in the luggage. You can check it with the skycaps or at the counter. Checking luggage does eliminate some of the benefits of online boarding passes.

However, it is nice to be able to change your seat, if needed, before the airport rush.

[jhannah]

I'm not sure about international travel, but for domestic travel you can check your bag at curbside once you arrive at the airport (in those locations that offer curbside service.) Something tells me that for international travel that you have to present yourself with passport to be checked in.

[Orcrone]

What about if you are traveling with luggage you need to check, Jim?You would still have to go through the line, but it seems that the check in was a lot quicker. Just did that this weekend with Northwest Airlines. They had the Kiosks set up and we just entered our confirmation code, gave them our luggage and we were set.

[Debi_D]

If you us the new machines that they have at the check in counters they can check your passports there and take your luggage from there. It really is much better to go on line and print out all the information from the website.

JC-I believe you can check yourself all the way though on American Eagle when you check in for your first flight unless you are doing this on two seperate days. I am based in Boston and I know you can check yourself all the way though from either curbside (the skycabs will look over your passport) or the machines.

Deb

[xpcdoojk]

Thanks Debi D

How long before the flight can you check yourself in?

jc

[Debi_D]

jc - if you are flying you first leg domestic you should check in 90 minutes prior your flight and if you are flying your international flight first the 120 minutes prior flight. Have fun and you are going to love the 777 aircraft that AA uses to go to Europe, the plane is huge.....

Deb

[xpcdoojk]

Cool, hopefully there will be a nice row of empty seats for me to make a bed in! :D As if I can sleep on a plane.:eek:


Actually, I was wondering how long before I fly out a week from Tuesday can I go to AA.com and print my boarding passes.:confused:

thanks again.:cool:

jc

[jhannah]

You may check in up to 24 hours in advance of departure.

[elmorejj]

For International flights you cannot check in curb side. You have to present yourself at the desk. I take a minimum of four International vacations a year and this is what i`ve always been told....jean :cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

We also got that e-mail this morning from AA.

It has been awhile since we have flown AA so let me see if I have this correct.

We booked our first class tickets for San Diego via Dallas.

We can print out our boarding passed on line 24 hours before actual flight time.

And we can check our bags right at the curb in Pittsburgh.

Right?

[dakrewser]

What about if you are traveling with luggage you need to check, Jim?
If traveling AA with luggage to check, you're better off using the in-terminal check-in machine (which also does baggage checking) rather then the on-line checking (which doesn't). For Southwest, on the other hand, you need to stand in line to see the ticket agent in person to check bags (or use curbside). Other airlines may have different policies.

Its also been announced that Ryanair (European lowfare airline) is going to stop accepting checked bags entirely.

-dave

[dakrewser]

We also got that e-mail this morning from AA.

It has been awhile since we have flown AA so let me see if I have this correct.

We booked our first class tickets for San Diego via Dallas.

We can print out our boarding passed on line 24 hours before actual flight time.

And we can check our bags right at the curb in Pittsburgh.

Right?

Right, but if you have to check bags then there's no advantage to on-line chek-in (and does use your ink and paper! :rolleyes: )

-dave

[Orcrone]

Right, but if you have to check bags then there's no advantage to on-line chek-in (and does use your ink and paper! :rolleyes: )

-daveIf you use frequent flyer mileage programs, many offer extra miles for online check-in. They also offer it for purchasing tickets online.

[MISSYLOU]

Don't think you can do online check-in and print boarding passes if you are on an international flight.

[gliles]

From AA.com
Flight Check-In on AA.com (https://www.aa.com/apps/reservations/webcheckin/FlightCheckInViewReservations.jhtml)
To locate your nearest ticket counter, locate your nearest printer. That's Flight Check-In on AA.com. It's just that easy. Whenever you travel on a U.S. domestic electronic ticket and you have access to the Internet and a printer, you have access to a boarding pass. Arrive at the airport with everything you need and you can head straight for your gate. Passengers with domestic e-tickets may check in on AA.com anytime from 24 hours to one hour prior to departure. Flight Check-In is available for travel in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

[dakrewser]

Don't think you can do online check-in and print boarding passes if you are on an international flight.
That depends on the airline. You can on BA, for example.


-dave

[dakrewser]

British Airways, that is...:)

-dave

[iluvcruzin]

This was on the news not too long ago. This type of policy is going to occur with most of the airlines eventually. They are trying to reduce head counts and encourage people to book online. I don't know what to think about the extra charge except I think it's unfair to many who don't have internet access (yes, there are still plenty of people out there who do not). I normally book my airflights directly through the airline online.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We decided to book quite a few airline tickets for the next 3 cruises on line ourselves because AAA (where our TA is) prices are running quite a few dollars more - Pittsburgh to San Diego round trip - over $1000 more per person for first class.

Round trip to Ft Lauderdale first class on line was $520+ while AAA prices were $1800+ for first class - big difference.

[Krazy Kruizers]

dakrewser (Dave) - so you are saying that even though I can print my boarding passes on line, and I have bags to check there is no advantage to on-line check-in. What is the problem???

When we used to fly US Airways we were able to print our boarding passes on line, check our bags at the curb, and then proceed to security to go to our plane.

Need clarification here.

[gliles]

dakrewser (Dave) - so you are saying that even though I can print my boarding passes on line, and I have bags to check there is no advantage to on-line check-in. What is the problem???

When we used to fly US Airways we were able to print our boarding passes on line, check our bags at the curb, and then proceed to security to go to our plane.

Need clarification here.
You can do exactly as you say. Print at home and check the bags with the sky cap then you are ready to go but the sky cap can also give you your BP to get through security so Dave is correct, it is a waste of your paper and toner. If you ever fly without checked bags, it is the way to go though.

[gliles]

Personally, I think that anyone who doesn't book online is a fool! Just kidding but seriously, most airlines offer bonus miles for booking online. I work for an airline and when I purchase tickets, for example to catch a cruise, I always book it online. Obviously I don't accumulate that many miles but 1,000 for booking online added to Citibank miles, hotel and car miles, etc, it does add up and flying on an AAdvantage® ticket is much better that buying or flying standby!

[dakrewser]

dakrewser (Dave) - so you are saying that even though I can print my boarding passes on line, and I have bags to check there is no advantage to on-line check-in. What is the problem???

When we used to fly US Airways we were able to print our boarding passes on line, check our bags at the curb, and then proceed to security to go to our plane.

Need clarification here.

But you don't need to chek-in on line to use curbside checkin. The nice skycaps will gladly give you your boarding passes.:)

If you do on-line checkin, though, you can't use the automated terminals to check your luggage :(

-dave

[gliles]

If you do on-line checkin, though, you can't use the automated terminals to check your luggage
No longer true, with the roll out of the new AA machines, you now can!

[dakrewser]

No longer true, with the roll out of the new AA machines, you now can!
Which new machines? I've been using the airport terminal machines for 4 years now, and I haven't seen any changes. According to the AA website:

How do I check my luggage after checking in with Flight Check-In?After you have checked in using Flight Check-In, you may check your luggage at our convenient Curbside Check-In or see an American Airlines agent.

[jhannah]

When on our last flight, we were standing in the counter check-in line and were told we could check our bags at the self-service machines. An agent was there to hand us the luggage tags. We then took the bags over to the TSA area for inspection and sending out to the plane.

[gliles]

Which new machines? I've been using the airport terminal machines for 4 years now, and I haven't seen any changes. According to the AA website:

How do I check my luggage after checking in with Flight Check-In?After you have checked in using Flight Check-In, you may check your luggage at our convenient Curbside Check-In or see an American Airlines agent.
Today 06:18 PMI don't know where on the site you got that but see http://www.aa.com/content/urls/checkin.jhtml

Where it says:

Print Your Boarding Pass From Homehttp://www.aa.com/content/images/common/c.gif

Use Flight Check-In on AA.com Up To 24 Hours Before Your Flight With Flight Check-In on AA.com, you can print your boarding pass from home, the office or anywhere you have an Internet connection and a printer. It's an easy and convenient way to select or change your seat assignment and print your own boarding pass. You can go directly to security and then to your gate. If you have bags to check, use our convenient Curbside Check-In or Self-Service Check-In.

You may have been using the machines for 4 years but I have been working there for 22 :D The new machines just rolled out about a month or so ago and that was one of the enhancements. Another was the ability to reprint a BP or itinerary as well as check-in w/o a credit card.

[darnapar]

Northwest announced the same policy last week

[777steve]

Agents cost more money per transaction than tickets. Paper costs more than screen pixels and e-ticket storage bytes. The charge is, IMO, being applied after they (the airlines) have been playing the "wait and see" game to validate whether the public would accept fees for travel agents following their 90's reductions in travel agency commissions. It was a long time coming and inevitable. I would agree that it poses an imposition on those who do not have computer access but i guess nothing in life is ever fair to everyone.

As for online check-in, there are some other "perks" that make it a good thing:


On Continental, for example, those exit row seats and premium seats that are unavailable during the advance seat period become available when the 30 hour advance check-in window opens.
Also, I think someone else mentiond this, the added bonuses for booking and checking-in online can really add up.
If one is a high mileage flier that wishes to get on the standby list for upgrades (that's the airport version not the do it anytime version) then the timing of the "first-come, first-served" starts when the check-in is activated.
Personally I love the ability to manage a great deal of my travelling life online. And I enjoy watching the trends in technology become part of "everyday" life.

Anyway, just another opinion.

Cheers!
:)

[gliles]

Jetblue charges $6 more to talk to an agent and British Airways charges 15 pounds more but I think Jetblue markets it as a discount to book online rather than an penalty to talk to a person, it's all in the way it's worded.