The Luggage Blog

Aside from airline fees, one of the top complaints traveler’s have lately is the amount of time it takes to get through security.  The TSA has tried to address this issue by implementing self-regulated lanes designed for different types of travelers.  The only downside to system where each passenger decides their level of expertise is that people may tend to chose whatever line they think will be quickest, regardless of how often they travel… leaving the people who actually DO travel often stuck waiting behind someone less prepared (as usual).

A few airlines are taking matters into their own hands and plan to provide special priority lines to their frequent travelers.  American Airlines announced last week that they’re starting their Priority Access, giving their top customers dedicated security and boarding lines to speed up their trip.  Today Southwest Airlines announced Fly By,  which will provide a priority security lane to Business Select and Rapid Reward A-List customers.  Both programs are said to begin sometime in late October.  This sounds like great news for frequent travelers who are sick of getting held up in long lines.  While we’re not sure how TSA policies play into this, we suspect you’ll still have to remove your shoes.  But at least the people in line with you know the drill and are probably wearing slip-ons.

Southwest Airlines Introduces Priority Security Lanes at Select Airports
American Airlines Adds Airport Perks for Top Travelers

Photo by Ingorr

Charging Military $100 Checked Bag Fee: Generous? Not so much.

American Airlines has agreed to now waive their $100 3rd checked bag fee for military personnel.  Previously they had only waived the fee for the first and second checked bags and felt that this policy was “generous.”

“I am not aware of any ability by our agents to waive an excess baggage fee, even for military personnel—since they already have the common checked bag fees waived in our policy,” [an American Airlines spokesperson] said. “Otherwise, our policy is very generous as you can see, and intentionally so.”

After recently receiving some bad press they’ve changed their tune.

“We always understood that soldiers traveling on duty were reimbursed by the military for the fees on required excess baggage. However, after recently hearing of the burden the military reimbursement process put on soldiers traveling to war zones, the choice for us to forgo payment for a third checked bag from the Department of Defense was clear,” said Tom Del Valle, American’s Senior Vice President.

Despite American Airlines’ previous stance that the military should be covering baggage expenses, the fact remains that policies like this hurt the soldier who generally has to jump through a lot of hoops to get reimbursement (and obviously has much more important things to do).  Whether or not the bill should be on the military or the airline, most would agree that it shouldn’t be on the soldier.  So kudos to American Airlines for addressing the problem realistically (rather than letting it get lost in a sea of bureaucracy and backwards PR speak).

UPDATE: American Airlines Agrees To Waive Extra Bag Fees For Soldiers [The Consumerist]

Photo by ReneS

Alternately, “BLOGS ON A PLANE!“

As what was once an addictive fad grows into a modern necessity, it’s no surprise that someone would develop a way to get WiFi on a plane.  American Airlines now offers in-flight WiFi with Aircell’s Gogo internet service.  It’s currently available on select flights within the US for $12.95.  According to LaptopMag’s Joanna Stern, the service is sound, which she tests by multitasking—streaming video, chatting, email—it all works just fine.  And if you’re not exactly tech-savvy,  Stern mentions that there’s a Gogo rep right on the plane to offer assistance.  It seems that there isn’t any content being filtered, however Gogo blocks VOIP (voice over IP internet phone service) for the obvious reason that in-flight phone conversations would be extremely distracting to other passengers.  (Of course, as she mentions there’s already a way around the block).  Currently American Airlines is the only airline offering Gogo, but Delta and Virgin America will be soon to follow.

It’s actually surprising to see an airline offering a service like this for so little when you can find free ways online to entertain yourself… with all the price gouging lately you’d half expect to see them charge an additional $2 to access YouTube and Hulu. (I hope I didn’t just give them any ideas!)

If you have any questions or know if any additional fees—let us know!