Why do American Airlines charge for bags on international flights and most others don't?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

You would think that this would deter passengers. If you have a big family it adds up. British airways, Lufthansa, Delta, USairways don't. It annoys me that AA charge all these extras.

[HipChick]

1. Because they can....Delta charges for any bag after the first

depending on your destination...free for SkyMiles Medallion® members though

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. at least you get the first!

[doc03]

2. Because they can n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. I hope they go bankrupt

[havocmom]

5. Do airports in other nations charge a % of ticket price like they do here?

If so, there's your reason.

Airlines pay a percentage of ticket price as a tax to airports to pay for using them. Some bean counter figured they could dodge their fair share by lowering ticket price and jacking up, adding other fees, on which the do not have to pay a percentage.

They are tax cheats and it costs local airport authorities (and local taxpayers) more $$ to keep the airports up so the airlines can exploit them.

[HipChick]

6. I sometimes have to pay a departure tax when leaving other countries

Works out around $50-$60 in the local currency..

[OrderedChaos]

7. Yes, some countries do have a "Departure Tax"

in Japan, you need to pay a Departure tax to exit the country. Last time, it was like 2000 Yen (about $20 USD) out of Narita, if I remember right. But, domestic flights, within Japan, did not cost extra. I guess it helps cover all the costs of passport checking and filing.

[aquart]

8. The grammar of that sentence...say what?

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Because the bags usually circle the globe multiple times, even if you don't.

[MilesColtrane]

10. Why does a dog lick his testicles?

Because he can.

[frazzled]

11. Because they (in general) don't?

Fees are charged only for flights within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Why Canada, I have no idea. The rest are US territories.

Otherwise, there is no fee for a checked bag to Europe, Asia, South America, etc. Perhaps you got charged for extra weight? They all do that. Anything over 50 lb. will cost you a pretty penny.

Here is the American policy:

http://www.americanairlines.es/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp

[frazzled]

13. All the US airlines charge to Canada, but none to other "foreign" destinations

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/checked/index.jsp

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

Aggregate info here:

http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm

If you travel a lot domestically and check baggage, maybe this is a good deal for you (it wouldn't be for me; we hardly ever check bags anymore, unless going overseas, in which case we check one bag under 50 lbs. for free; I've justs learned how to pack in a carry-on sized rollaboard):
United has also rolled out a "Premier Baggage Fee" of $249 that allows free first- and second-checked bags for one year.

[JI7]

12. United Airlines charged me for check in bag when i went to CAnada

[pitohui]

14. they didn't charge me (from south america)

i have no status w. american airlines and no special credit cards but they didn't charge me for my bag

maybe they just don't like you, i dunno

passengers are not deterred because airline tix are at (after inflation) close to the lowest prices of all time

on some airlines such as delta i get three bags free because i'm an elite frequent flyer but i rarely fly american, and i don't *think* they know abt my status and are trying to court me, i *think* they didn't charge anyone on my flights for their bags

i think you got effed over, in other words, and may have been charged for $ you didn't really owe