From yesterday's paper: American Airlines plans to charge a $25 fee for luggage that weighs 50 to 70 pounds. But, they are lowering the charge for bags over 70 pounds from $80 to $50. We will need to pack much more carefully this coming February, we've usually had to pieces over 50 pounds; althoughtour brand, spanking new video camera and "Mako" housing will save a lot of weight and space.

Darn, that "W" key keeps sticking; that's "Two (2) pieces over 50 lbs"

The newspaper said the new rates were effective this Sunday; just went to the AA web-site and found that says 50 lb limit for domestic flights, but 70 lbs for flights to/from Puerto Rico.
From AA siet:
For flights to/from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
The maximum amount of baggage each ticketed passenger is allowed free of charge is:
2 pieces checked and one carry-on
Please note that one carry-on personal item does not count toward the free bag allowance.

The size limitation of your luggage is calculated by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, that is, length + width + height.
Two checked bags at 62 in/157 cm each
One carry-on bag at 45 in/114 cm
The maximum weight per checked bag is 70 lbs/32 kgs.
The maximum weight per carry-on bag is 40 lbs/18 kgs.

Will need to check it out carefully before we pack for the Feb/Mar visit!

Chet -

Thanks for the heads up.

We use American to get to Bonaire and the luggage limitations are good to know.

We just hope they're still flying, and to BON, by the time we next get to go.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Chet...can't wait to see what you come back with after using your new photo equipment! You will be having so much fun experimenting with it on Bonaire. I have to check with AJ on their luggage/baggage allowances for First Class and Coach. Thanks for the tip. CArole

Here's a hoot...my luggage wandered off with kids to college and ex's elsewhere...so Eva and I were at the WalMart buying luggage...we had all these bags in the aisle measuring with our tape measure.

We bought carry-ons on the small side...heard the overheads in the ATR 72 plane are smaller then on the big planes (airbus 300, MD-80, 737 etc).

Wow Carole...1st class?

Overheads in ATRs are smaller but AA takes larger carryons from you at the steps into the plane, stows them as baggage in the baggage area forward of the passenger cabin and returns them as you deplane. So no problem with 'standard' size carryons!

Hi, Eva...we do it for "size" more than anything else right now...Joe and I are both "large" folks, as one might say and there is much more room up front on the plane. It's a long ride from Newark, NJ to Bonaire so we save up all year to "go for it" on the plane. Someday we will "shrink" and be able to fly for less! Wow...two bonuses...being a lot thinner and flying for less...sounds like a plan. But, that is the main reason we do it. The rest of our lives are spent living in a coach manner, believe me! LOL. Carole

Oops....I meant "Hi, Wally"!! Carole

When I come over to Bonaire on KLM I get my agent to telephone them and the airline will give you an extra allowance as they would with skis or golf clubs. Its about 7kgs. We have never needed it but get pretty close sometimes! Do you think this might be worth a try with AA?

Re Delta Airlines and heavy baggage: note the exclusions for 'sporting equipment', 'cabin bags' and 'military duffle bags, seabags and B4 bags' (it doesn't say that they require military id to exclude 'military' bags). So, if you want to carry on a 69 lb bag.....

'Delta Air Lines Changes Charges for Overweight Baggage

ATLANTA, Feb. 3, 2003 - Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) changed its excess
baggage charges for overweight baggage, effective Feb. 1. Delta will now
consider any bag weighing more than 50 pounds to be overweight, and will
charge $25 for bags weighing between 51 and 70 pounds. Delta will continue
to charge $80 for bags weighing 71 to 100 pounds. Bags that weigh more than
100 pounds are not accepted by Delta as checked baggage.

'This new policy applies to passengers with tickets purchased on or after
Feb.. 1 who are traveling on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Atlantic
Coast Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Comair,
and SkyWest Airlines.

'Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion SkyMiles members, and Delta customers
confirmed in the forward cabin are exempt from this policy and will not be
charged for baggage weighing between 50 and 70 pounds. These passengers will
continue to be charged for bags weighing more than 70 pounds. This new
policy also does not apply to military duffel bags, military sea bags, or
military B-4 bags up to 70 pounds. Additionally, it does not apply to
sporting equipment, musical instruments, live animals, cabin baggage, media
equipment or wheelchairs and assistive devices, which may be covered by
other baggage policies.

'These new weight guidelines are in addition to the piece and size
allowances.. Current excess guidelines for additional pieces and dimensional
requirements remain unchanged.'
--
This was forwarded to me, precise original source unknown. Reasonable sounding.

I will never forget my fathers B-4 bag, it was a MONSTER. I was out of short pants before I could carry it if it was fully loaded, I think he could pack for a short war with that thing.