Do you feel like a lobster in a pot, with the water getting hotter and hotter every week? If you’re a customer of American Airlines, it’s time to jump out of the pot and scurry to the beach. Just when you think the U.S. airlines can’t possibly get any more evil and customer-unfriendly, along comes American Airlines deciding to charge you $15 for your FIRST checked bag . That’s right, bring anything larger than a carry-on and you get slapped with yet another fee that should be included in the ticket to start with.
Plenty of people who write about how bad this industry has declined have covered this already. Read the reactions at Elliot.org , Gadling , or Jaunted .
If there was ever a time to vote with your wallet, this is it. I put my money where my mouth was with U.S. Air a while back and will never fly them again. American has just joined that list of shame and I’m sure I’m not the only person who will always choose another airline (or no airline at all) over one that has such disdain for their passengers. If you own this stock, you’re insane. It’s the beginning of the end: this airline is going under.
* Revision May 29, 2009 – The spiral towards bankruptcy has already begun. American shocks industry with international cuts.
