If this decision doesn't make people want to leave their formal attire home I don't know what will. I suppose the other airlines will follow shortly.

http://tinyurl.com/5827ke

Rich, I just read that not 15 minutes ago, and was not surprised, but not very happy either. Was looking at booking a flight (not cruise related) for June, and seems like we are being "fuel surcharged" for everything now. Wonder when my grocery store will start adding a fuel surcharge to my purchases? And the druggist? And the department store? Just add the fees to the price and forget about "adding it as a separate fee". These fuel related charges are breaking us.

Well that's nice. The mad scramble for overhead bins will now go to a new level. Maybe they can charge for the overhead bins too?

No word on how this will affect the previous AA announcement with $25 for the second checked bag.

So far Delta says they won't follow suit.

Don't give them any ideas. This is totally ridiculous, where will it end? Everyone should really protest against charging for the first bag. I believe a few years back American tried charging for a coke. It received a lot of protest and they backed off.

I understand times are tough for the airlines, but this type of thing shows a lack of creativity by management. I just heard on the radio that AA hopes the fee will force people to pack less. Well, that is BS. People going on vacation need to take at least some clothes with them. Does AA think we are going to Alaska next month and hope to carry everything we need in our carry-ons? Business travelers already rarely check baggage.

It is a dilbert-esque fix by incompetent management. I imagine Delta and the others are overloaded with reservation requests today. Good for them!

Since AA hasn't mentioned how this $15 fee will affect their previously announced $25 fee for a second checked bag, I assume this means a person checking two bags will have to shell out $40. Or should we say $80 since virtually all trips are round trips. So for a family of 4 going on a cruise, with 4 checked bags, they now have a cost of $160 tacked on to their total cruise cost and it is a no-value cost.

Soon, it's going to be less expensive to buy your clothes at your destination. Driving is looking better and better, which defeats the purpose of consuming less gasoline. Maybe we're not supposed to take vacations any more.

All I can say is....WOW! An additional fee for reservation help...isn't that what "reservation specialists" do - that's their job - now we have to pay them to do it! WOW....

Next up? I can easily see them saying that a standard airfare is for someone who weighs X pounds or less - probably 140 or so. Anyone over that will have to pay a dollar a pound surcharge. No rebates if you are under the limit, and you can't average it if, for example, you are flying with your family with two children.

Oh no! I've given them another idea!

Read the details here at the AA website.