American Airlines Raises Fees And Ruins My Kids Summer Vacation

OK, Summer is here. I have limited funds to entertain the kids. They are now at the age where they want to go fly to see grandma by themselves and give mom and I a needed break. But American Airlines is doing it's best to "jack" this plan up by charging $15.00 to check a bag and raising the unaccompanied minors fee to $100.

The charges expand on airlines' efforts to find more revenue from sources other than ticket prices as an 86 percent increase in jet fuel over the past year widens industry losses. Carriers are tacking on higher charges for baggage, pets and booking a reservation by phone as U.S. summer travel begins.

Southwest Airlines Co. said it doesn't plan to charge passengers to check up to two bags on flights. Some companies still manage to get it right.

Bloomberg.com tells you who else is raising fees and making it expensive to fly and unlike Southwest Airlines have a horrible bottom line.

FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES TODAY??? 900 CANCELED FLIGHTS LEAVE TRAVELERS HANGIN' FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS MONTH

Last week 15 of 19 American Airlines flights flunked the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) testing, that's why this week American is scrambling to get it right. What's to blame? Airplanes in the U.S. are just too old and airlines refuse to replace them. Can you say travel insurance? You're going to want to check this out family.

American's decision to cancel flights today in addition to the more than 1,000 flights it canceled Wednesday for last-second inspections is just one of many headaches for travelers -- and for a struggling airline industry -- already facing a steady stream of problems.

For more details, see How Old Is That Plane You're Boarding? By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT

FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES TODAY 4-8-2008???? THINK AGAIN!!

No this is not a cheap attempt at filling space with an old story. No you are not having dinner with Bill Murry in Groundhog Day. We are talking just hours ago, American Airlines announced it was canceling 500 flights across the United States... again. Yes Again, because they did the same thing two weeks ago, canceling flights for electrical maintenance/inspection.
Well they are claiming they are doing the same thing today and it will probably carry over till Wednesday. All the Airlines are running scared after seeing Southwest Airlines get slapped with a 10.2 million fine by the FAA over missing safety inspections.
Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer has more on this story.

FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES TODAY??? 200 FLIGHTS CANCELED

If you are flying American Airlines today Wednesday March 26, you need to confirm your flight right now. American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, canceled 200flights today to re-inspect wiring in Boeing Co. MD-80s after federal regulators raised questions during a maintenance audit.