Cheap Airfares Offered By New American Airlines Fare Structure

Cheap Airfares Offered By New American Airlines Fare Structure

The new fare structure announced recently by American Airlines that bundled up a number of services will allow passengers to take advantage of cheap airfares.

Passengers can opt for the cheap airfares, also known as Choice, while paying for the services and perks, such as checked-in baggage and preferred seating, separately. The Choice Essential option will allow passengers to have one checked baggage, priority boarding, and no change charges at an add-on round-trip rate of $68.

The Choice Plus, which entails an $88 add-on fee, will include an AA Advantage mileage bonus on top of the three services and perks. It also gives passengers same-day flight standby or change, and a first-class beverage.

According to the VP for marketing of American Airlines, Rob Friedman, the company has given its customers additional flexibility and more benefits that will make their travel convenient and simple.

In addition to the cheap airfares, passengers can still opt for the first class/business rates and other fare options that offer refund options. The standard frequent flier benefits are still available although elite customers can avail of a third checked baggage option.

Mike Boyd, an aviation consultant, indicated that the new system has been practiced by Frontier Airlines for a number of years already. Although it reduces anxiety since passengers will know what they will get when they book for a flight, it may result to more charges for some passengers, Boyd added.

But Airfarewatchdog.com president George Hobica indicated that the $68 add-on for checked baggage will allow passengers to save on their airfare. It will cost passengers $50 for an individually checked baggage and the additional $18 will prevent them from paying $150 for changes when they book a non-refundable ticket.

The new airfare structure may be adopted by other airlines since it’s a win-win situation. Passengers can modify their flights with lesser charges while airlines will be able to attract more customers using the structure that offers cheap airfares.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Thursday December 13 2012, 2:30 AM EST. Ref: CNN. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0