Help with dodging AA checked baggage fees for QFF Red flyer

[MikeG]

I've got alot of domestic AA flights lined up in July, and I'm sadly not an elite flyer right now (previous Gold FF).

I have AA Club Access, but apart from OW the only way is one of three American Citizen only credit cards for exemption. Dammit! There must be another way to avoid a couple of hundred dollars in baggage fees???

Current credit cards held are:
- Commonwealth Diamond Rewards
- American Express Gold Business
- Qantas CU Visa Platinum

AFAIK none of these cards offer any solace.

Any help would be appreciated. Wish webjet would have mentioned this before I purchased... Buyer beware!

Mike

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah - in future - book with AA direct (using their US '.com' site). The savings you make over webjet will more than offset baggage charges.

As an example - I picked 13 July for two routes, LAX-LAS and LAX-LGA.

Webjet charged AUD141 and AUD353 respectively, including a whopping AUD55 in webjet additional fees and charges.

AA.com offered those same flights for just AUD87 and AUD284. No $55 worth of fees and charges.

(USD-AUD calculated at .73)

As for additional bag charges, not sure if there's anything you can do. OW ruby (QF silver) and above will give you a free bag.

 

[MikeG]

Normally I would, but:

1. AA.com didn't have the flights I wanted (?) but webjet did.
2. AA.com required me to book every leg individually on their website, which given its a CBR-SYD-LAX-PHL-ORD-CLT-TRI-CLT-DFW-SYD-CBR flight schedule I was happy to pay $55 for the privilege of doing it in one hit.

Under Australian consumer law, I wonder if there is a need for Australian travel agents to disclose baggage fees? Webjet didn't do this. I know that with motor vehicle sales, dealers are required by law to include onroad costs. Surely the same laws extend to any "hidden costs"

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the baggage fees will be charged separately, at check-in won't they? Not wishing to defend Webjet in any way, but if that's the case, then its up to you whether you check a bag or not, and its a transaction direct between you and the airline. Therefore although it would have been nice if they at least advised of the charges that may be incurred if you choose to check in a bag, its not like the on-road costs which are unavoidable.

Or is Webjet charging a baggage fee up-front?

 

[serfty]

Normally I would, but:

1. AA.com didn't have the flights I wanted (?) but webjet did.
2. AA.com required me to book every leg individually on their website, which given its a CBR-SYD-LAX-PHL-ORD-CLT-TRI-CLT-DFW-SYD-CBR flight schedule I was happy to pay $55 for the privilege of doing it in one hit.

Under Australian consumer law, I wonder if there is a need for Australian travel agents to disclose baggage fees? Webjet didn't do this. I know that with motor vehicle sales, dealers are required by law to include onroad costs. Surely the same laws extend to any "hidden costs"

Sadly the horse has bolted as far as the web-jet fees. But, if this is all on the one international ticket then baggage fees may not apply.

Such an itinerary can readily be booked via AA online using ITA matrix and a greasemonkey script.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sadly the horse has bolted as far as the web-jet fees. But, if this is all on the one international ticket then baggage fees may not apply.

Such an itineray can readily be booked via AA online using ITA matrix amd a greasemonkey script.

I wouldn't describe that as 'readily', for the average punter .

 

[Buzzard]

I wouldn't describe that as 'readily', for the average punter .

Like me. What the hell is a greasemonkey? Sounds like some sort of motor mechanic?

Maybe a future knowledge base item will provide step by step instructions.

 

[MikeG]

I think the baggage fees will be charged separately, at check-in won't they? Not wishing to defend Webjet in any way, but if that's the case, then its up to you whether you check a bag or not, and its a transaction direct between you and the airline. Therefore although it would have been nice if they at least advised of the charges that may be incurred if you choose to check in a bag, its not like the on-road costs which are unavoidable.

Or is Webjet charging a baggage fee up-front?

Certain fares include baggage, so they need to specify IMHO. This is a new craze for US airlines to increase profits, so ethically I would think travel agents should be advising their clients (especially as I'm not local to the USA so will be toting baggage with me) - maybe I can manage with an overnight bag for a week ?!

 

[MikeG]

Like me. What the hell is a greasemonkey? Sounds like some sort of motor mechanic?

Maybe a future knowledge base item will provide step by step instructions.

+1 (blah blah blah to pad out the response for this forum's logic)

 

[MikeG]

I spoke to webjet, they told me to call AA and ask ?!?!?

I spoke to AA, and they said it was booked on an international ticket, so 2x23kg is free for all internal flights.



All that worry for nothing.

 

[serfty]

Like me. What the hell is a greasemonkey? Sounds like some sort of motor mechanic?

Maybe a future knowledge base item will provide step by step instructions.

Maybe I should had used the term 'tamper-monkey" for those using chrome.

But basically you use Firefox or Chrome, load the Greasemonkey(FF) or Tampermonkey (Chrome) add-on then the 'script' (ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK - FlyerTalk Forums).

Then generate a routing via ITA (Matrix - ITA Software by Google), select your preferred option then click the AA (C1) link to make the booking on AA.com.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I spoke to webjet, they told me to call AA and ask ?!?!?

I spoke to AA, and they said it was booked on an international ticket, so 2x23kg is free for all internal flights.



All that worry for nothing.

Indeed - with the international flights that would make a difference.

FWIW webjet indicates for AA solely domestic itineraries that baggage is '1x5kg only'. For other (non-low cost) carriers it displays the correct 20kg limit. Indirectly it looks like they do indicate the correct baggage allowance.

 

[serfty]

I spoke to webjet, they told me to call AA and ask ?!?!?

I spoke to AA, and they said it was booked on an international ticket, so 2x23kg is free for all internal flights.



All that worry for nothing.

As indicated earlier.

Baggage | Optional Service Fees | American Airlines

Are these all AA flights? Even the LAX/SYD ones? If so you may be able to earn Gold or Platinum on AA with their challenges.

 

[MikeG]

So would this book under a single eticket or would you get a dozen etickets using this method?

 

[MikeG]

As indicated earlier.

Are these all AA flights? Even the LAX/SYD ones? If so you may be able to earn Gold or Platinum on AA with their challenges.

Yes apart from the DFW-SYD which is a AA ticket on a QF bird.

ive heard about about challenges, but doesn't this require me to be gold or platinum with another airline??? (Im
not, any more)

 

[serfty]

If it's an AA flight number (as in AA7375) then it's treated for earning as it's an AA flight.

What is the booking class? (as in fare bucket, e.g. O )

 

[exceladdict]

I was under the impression only domestic flights connecting from international flights, and vv, are entitled to the intl baggage allowance.

I certainly hope you can save the $25+35 on each flight as it's money for nothing, but I wouldn't be too confident. Worst comes to worst you can ask AA for reimbursement after the fact if they have promised you no fees in writing...

 

[MikeG]

If it's an AA flight number (as in AA7375) then it's treated for earning as it's an AA flight.

What is the booking class? (as in fare bucket, e.g. O )

Fare basis: NLE0AC1

 

[serfty]

OK,

See here: American Airlines’ Status Challenge Options (from 2016)

For further discussion, here: AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion

Being N class, a Gold challenge would be completed on arrival in LAX, a Platinum challenge on arrival in DFW.

 

[serfty]

I was under the impression only domestic flights connecting from international flights, and vv, are entitled to the intl baggage allowance. ...

With the USA DOT exception to IATA302, the luggage allowance for the first journey of a booking is the the allowance for the entire booking.

The exception applies to bookings for travel from/to the USA.