I just want to pay the minimum and forego incidentals I don't opt for, such as excess luggage, headphones, etc.

As long as I can bring my own food on the plane, who cares? Airplane food was always horrible plus I have food allergies that limited what I could eat anyway. I'd be happy to check my own bag is I had the option. Maybe they should look at Southwest Airlines model to see why they don't charge their customers for luggage.

They are not going down a service fee path, checking a bag while travelling is a service? Food or beverage is one thing if you can bring your own or know what headset to bring and you're told what plane to expect. But adding fees for bags or necessary items??? Use of bathroom may be next? I don't rent a car and the pay extra if I want tires!

I am all in favor of a la carte pricing if the al la carte items are worth having. American has largely replaced real meals on flights with a box of food that can be bought for $3 or $5. The box is largely junk and would only be of interest if extremely hungry. If they offered a real meal of decent quality I would be happy to pay a reasonable amount for it. Offering a box of nutritionally incorrect snacks is insulting and ultimately I will fly with the airline that treats me with respect.

I personally do not like ala carte pricing at a restaurant and especially for air travel. I'd prefer level-setting the pricing on tickets to include the perks. If you can call them a perk. I think the airlines have gone too far in slicing and dicing. I'd like a little pillow to be available without an additional charge. I am particularly erked by the baggage charges. I'm a bottom-line person and really just want to know the total costs when booking a flight. I don't want to shop around comparing nonsense charges. Imaging a world where there are no hidden surprizes-how wonderful.

I think ala carte pricing by the airlines is a bad PR move. If there are cost increases, the airlines should raise ticket prices. I think travelers hate to be nickle-and-dimed to death and end up resenting the airlines who do this. I know I do and every traveler I have talked to agrees. In addition, the airline employees don't understand how much to charge and for what. Typically I finish a trip and then call the airline for a baggage fee refund. I am correct in my request and they end up crediting my credit card. What a dumb way to run things!

I would rather pay higher base fares.

I understand airlines need to make money, however, I think it is stupid to charge for everything. Somethings should just be included. A drink and luggage is not unreasonable to have included in the price of the ticket.

I understand other services, like alcohol and meals would be extra. This would be a luxury and not everybody wants it, that is why there is waste when it comes to these items.

Basically, there should be some that come included and then charge for above this level.

As someone who travels a lot for business, I'm seeing the extra fee for first checked bag turning into a disaster. People are now bringing their formerly checked bag on-board and insisting it will fit in an overhead (which it will, if there are no other bags). Now its a free for all to get the overhead space.
Plus, while I understand paying extra for headphones or liquor, its just plain price gouging to ask people to pay for water when they aren't allowed to bring it from home. Not to mention dangerous as it encourages people not to drink while flying.

a la carte pricing is offensive.
Last night showed a news story where some airlines are now charging for things like water, food, pillows, blankets etc. This is an obvious money making ploy and is despicable. If I could bring my own affordably priced water/food from home it would be one thing, but since you can't bring it beyond the damn TSA checkpoint, to overpay for water / food in the 'safe zone' or on the plane itself screams kaChing, to all involved. I will not travel via airline anymore than is ABSOLUTELY necessary. I am disgusted with the ever increasing mode of charging the captive traveling audience for every possible amenity.

I actually prefer having the option to pick and choose what I want, whether it is better seating, headphones, blankets, or if I want a meal or not. I don't always want them and having it all thrown in does not always guarantee you are going to get it. Too many times I have flown when there are no more blankets, or the meal choice I wanted is no longer available by the time the flight attendant reaches me. If choosing and paying for these as "extras" guarantees I will have them, then that works for me!

I am so sick of airline travel, that I will travel by any alternate means possible, if possible. just give me the lowest price possible. I will ship my luggage overnight on Fedex or UPS. At least I know it will get there. I don't use any of the other options, and even carry on my own beverage such as water or diet Mtn Dew.

I don't mind having to pay for meals on a plane, but for heaven's sake show a little courtesy and offer the travelers a glass of juice or soda. I also think they should be allowed to check one piece of luggage without paying for it. I don't object to paying a reasonable fee for a second piece of check-in baggage.

We know we are in trouble when they start charging for seat belts!

I love Southwest and it is my preferred airline. If given a choice between an airline that charges for baggage and one that doesn't, I will take the one that does not charge. There are many travelers now that go to extreme on the fee for baggage airlines and put 2 large bags in the overhead leaving no room for others.

Unfortunately society being nickeled and dimed to death has become the norm. Banks, credit card providers, cable providers, hotels, state and local governments, utility companies and now the airlines. Pretty soon there will be a fee to just breath air. This is the bold new way to rip us off in the 21st century.

I want to back up 25 years when passengers were treated with respect, and cared for by flight attendants
(they were called stewardess then, and often were Nurses). Of course, that would require passengers to return to dressing and acting appropriately also.
I think a 6-8 hour flight to Hawaii is too long for having only skimpy, stale $10.00 sandwiches available. Nothing like a plane full of cramped, hungry, thirsty, and cranky people!
I want my pillow and blanket back!!

Once again consumers have to pay for the gross inept management of the major airlines, as money hemmorages through the boardrooms due to Harvard MBAs with NO aviation experience attempting to run an airline.

The likes of CR Smith, Pat Patterson, Bob Six, Don Nyrop,and CE Woolman must all be rolling in their graves.

To parody one of the slogans form the old National Airlines (the one the inept William T. Seawell of Pan Am gobbled up)

"Is this any way to run an airline?"

I would rather see airlines raise their prices by a small percentage across the board than be nickle and dimed for everything. Knowing people have to bring luggage and charging extra for people to bring it is not just covering expenses. Now to charge for food whether it is ala carte or one set price is just another form of making pure profit. Airfare prices fluctuate daily as it is, so to include an additional 5 to 10% increase in prices to cover the food and fuel charges would almost go unnoticed. Ala Carte charging for everything just shows the greed of the airline companies to increase their bottom line amount anyway they can.

A-la carte pricing is fine if the things you're leaving out are superfluous, such as pillows or food. But making folks pay premiums based on the seat you choose and pay for one checked bag that is well within the weight limits is robbery. While lots of folks travel for business overnight and can potentially "carry" their bags on board, most Americans still only travel for pleasure, i.e., vacation. Vacations aren't over night, so carrying your luggage on board isn't an option. You should be allowed to check at least one bag under a reasonable weight limit at no charge. That's my biggest gripe. Some seats cost more based on their location within the aircraft, and you have to PAY to take clothes with you on a vacation.

If the airlines were managed any better, they wouldn't implement such asinine rules in the first place. Because airlines have begun to behave in such a manner, I've changed loyalty programs; ditching my Platinum status with American to go to another airline who still serves decent hot food at meal times, and lets me take at least one checked bag with me for no charge.

As more folks change their behavior, perhaps airline management will get a clue that nickle-and-diming their customers actually doesn't buy them anything.

As an older flyer, who remembers when air travel was reasonably gracious, I find the "a la Carte" approach just another lowest common denominator attack on the traveler's dignity. Do Americans have no self-respect left? I'm certainly not rich, but I don't want a third-world travel experience either. The Europeans named their contribution to contemporary airline fleets the "Airbus." It is an apt name for the experience we all share. As others here have noted, the airlines are making Amtrak and Greyhound look more competitive all the time.

"al-la-carte" would be a terrible reflection on the airlines. The gas prices are still fluctuating, and dropping, but the fares went up and will stay up. To take away the annemnities would be in poor taste. SWA has stayed constant, suggesting brown bag if needed. Otherwise they provide beverage and nuts...simple and cost effective. American airlines appears to be price gouging its customers.

I agree with JSN as a person who flew in the 60's when people were treated more like human beings and less like cattle. I'd prefer to pay a bit more up front and have food, a little leg room, pillow, etc. And, although we all like to complain, even then, the food in those days on the airlines was not so bad. And, if something went wrong, even due to the weather, free drinks for all! Over the past couple of decades, it went from dinners to cashews, to almonds, to peanuts, to pretzels.. what's next, sticks?

I vote for ala carte on food, extra luggage over one bag and other perks like head sets and pillows. But I definitely think charging for seat assignment when booking your flight is over the top.

I think there is a basic level of service that should be part of the price of going from point A to point B. That should include the trip, one checked bag (especially with the ever changing TSA requirements) and basic beverage charges. The idea of charging piecemeal for these and other services (such as aisle seats or the first five rows) is absurd. If the legacy carriers want to survive, they need to understand that extra fees just drive people to other carriers. Especially carriers who don't treat their customers as cattle.