Posted on 05/30/2008 8:22:19 AM PDT by nanetteclaret
American Airlines’ new bag policy discriminates against women, because most women will have to check their bag while men will not. As an example, here are the non-solid products my husband and I take when traveling:
My List: Shampoo, Cream Rinse, Body Wash, Body Lotion, Spray Perfume, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Contact Lens Solution, Glasses Cleaner, Face Cleanser, Toner, Facial Night Cream, Moisturizer, Sunscreen, Vaseline Lip Therapy, Hand Cream, Mascara, Lipgloss
My Husband’s List: Shampoo, Cream Rinse, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Glasses Lens Cleaner
Since we are required to put our lotions in a quart bag if we want to carry them on board, it is clear that my husband’s items will fit into a quart bag, while mine will not. Thus, I have to check the bag with my items, while he can carry his on. I will have to pay a $25.00 fee, while he will not. Cutting down the number of items I take is not an option because I have very dry skin and it is exacerbated by travel.
Most women use about 3 times as many products on a daily basis as men do. American Airlines’ policy is an example of discrimination against women who have no choice but to check their bags.
**Neither of you uses deodorant?***
LOL! Stick not roll-on...
After all, my posts were not too kind to the originator.
However, leave it to a woman to put another woman in here place.
Nicely done, ma'am ;^)
“You may be an ass... I do not know. Just like you don’t know if the original poster is a total babe or not”.
You ever see what these “total babes” on TV look like when they take off thier makeup??
Woof!
Then the flight attendants have a myriad of things to do before a flight can depart. I'm sure they have some sort of checklist to run through. And I'm thinking that if the plane was just about to depart as you say, the tray tables are supposed to be upright position. Of course the flight attendant should have taken time to explain that and told you she would clean the mess up at the appropriate time.
AA has a highly trained operations management team that has undoubtedly run various models to analyze their situation. I would not second guess their judgment. Of course, the public's and competitors' reactions are uncertain so the models may be wrong. AA will change policy if they have misjudged customer sentiment.
The airlines collectively are in a difficult situation. AA is in a more difficult situation than others because it has not declared bankruptcy (yet). The airlines will have a difficult time to cover their costs in the short run. Lots of airline travel is price sensitive. Customers, both business and leisure, will reduce travel if fares rise to fully cover rising fuel costs.
The airlines may be forced to adopt a two part pricing structure. The fixed part of the fare would cover their fixed costs. The variable part would cover their fuel costs. The variable part would be based on weight transported (person and all luggage). The variable part would be charged at the time of flight rather than reservation time.
Taking out the eristic claim of discrimination, it’s still rather disingenuous for them to charge to check any bags at the same time they require certain items to be checked.
Furthermore, what is their policy going to be now on lost luggage? If people are *paying* for the shipment of the bag, you better believe they will be even less pleased to see it disappear.
My complaint is the multiple bag charges they are going to institute. FrogDad and I recently traveled and, since he was still under a don’t-lift-more-than-5-pounds edict after surgery, I got to sling our stuff around. This hypothetical occurred to me while slinging that stuff.
The person in front of me hoists their 50 lb bag up onto the scale. There’d be no charge.
I hoist two bags totalling about 46 lbs. MUCH easier to move two 25 lb bags for an older (ahem!) woman. I’d have to pay for that second bag, even though my stuff weighs less than the previous persons.
THAT is discrimination!
All I need to carry on a flight (even those long, halfway around the world endeavors) is my book, my iPod and Bose headphones (which are enlisted as soon as a kid yowls), a toothbrush and my various IDs. I usually bring a small hairbrush, a travel-size deodorant, a small package of wet wipes and a compact for the very, very long flights. The rest of it gets mailed ahead of time or checked.
I hope you reported the sticky tray incident. Traveling is enough of a hassle without having to put up with annoyances like that.
None of the products the original poster mentioned even constitute makeup. They were products for cleanliness and health—shampoo, body wash, moisturizers, and eye care materials. I did not see her mention foundation, eye liner, blush, lipstick, lipliner, mascara, powder, eyebrow pencil, shadow, concealer, line-minimizing products, which is what most of us think of as makeup. Not much of what she was carrying was going to change her appearance, just make her comfortable.
Men don’t need conditioner for their hair because their hair is short and is cut before it gets ratty-looking. They don’t need moisturizer because they have more oils in their skin.
And we women wouldn’t focus so much on appearance if it weren’t so important to you men. Notice what women look like when they go to an all-women’s camp or hiking weekend. Where I ride my horse, almost everybody is either female or is a married man, so the women do not wear makeup. We get dolled up for you guys.
Waah waah waah.
If it bothers you that much, fly Delta.
This is not a safety issue - it is a revenue-generation/customer service one. Are we to assume that airlines were unsafe before they started charging for checked-in luggage?
“Because they are targeting the specific customers causing the specific problem (too much baggage)”
1 piece of checked-in luggage (that AA has started charging for) is not “too much baggage.” Considering the long list of prohibited carry-on items, that 1 checked-in bag seems to be a necessity now.
If the reactions on this thread are any indicator, AA and United will pay the price for their poor customer management skills. I am doing by bit by patronizing other airlines even when AA has a lower base fare.
We didn’t take off for another 10 minutes or so. The stew *never* said to put up the tray table, although I told my daughter we would have to after it was cleaned (the minute she sat down she popped it open).
I agree they have checklists to do pre-flight, but this lady was just doing busy work, nothing ‘real’, if that makes any sense.
My husband is the kind of guy who is a ‘don’t waste time reporting this sort of thing, we’ve got better things to do’ so we didn’t report her or the rude boarding counter person—we’ll show our unhappiness with the service by choosing a different airline next time! I imagine TPTB just shred any written complaints anyway. Not enough hours in the day for the complaints they must get all the time!
I find them (American Airlines) to be just the opposite. I fly a lot, and the baggage rule doesn't apply to me.
They take care of their best (money generating) customers, as they should.
Logan, is by far, the worst airport in the country (though LAX is pretty bad too). Not only does baggage retrieval suck, the security check areas are have very few scanners/detectors (thus ensuring very long lines and wait times).
Well, as long as he was there and ticketed to board & fly, wouldn’t that be his bag and your bag, 1 each.... ?
No but we may assume saftey was the reason they banned liquid vanity lotions on checked in luggage.
I agree with you and Allegra; travel light. Everything a person needs for a month can be packed in one medium suitcase. For carry on, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and necessary paper work/cash/credit cards are sufficient.
If a person needs all the comforts of home, the solution is obvious. stay home and quitcherwhining
I am flying in July. I called the airline(Midwest) and they said that they are not charging for the 1st bag, only the 2nd and so on. Honestly, they are the best airline out there. Great service, comfortable flights (esp the ones with all leather big seats) and the ability to upgrade your seat the day of your flight if your plane does not have the big seats. Oh, and wonderful, fresh baked cookies! lol Boy, am I glad I bought my ticket in January!
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