Looks like the golf trips are going to cost more

[snoodlelvr]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/bu...ss&oref;=slogin

American is going to start charging for checked baggage, and there is no way that clubs will ever be an allowable carry-on. Hopefully the other airlines won't do this too, but I don't like where this is heading.

[Shindig]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/bu...ss&oref;=slogin

There's always the alternative of driving. My next golf trip is going to be within driving distance. Actually, all of mine so far have been. Sure, it would be tough for either of us to get to TPC Sawgrass from where we are, but Palm Desert is within reach for me.

[ChiChiIsMe]

There's always the alternative of driving.

Kind of hard when your tee time is @ St. Andrews and you're in IL! ;) ;)

[JKilgore44]

There's always the alternative of driving. My next golf trip is going to be within driving distance.

In case you didn't realize, gas is over $3.75 a gallon here in Texas. I imagine in California it's probably pushing $4. I guess if you next golf trip is in the same town you could probably save a few bucks

[Shindig]

Kind of hard when your tee time is @ St. Andrews and you're in IL! ;) ;)

Wait a few months, drive West through the land bridge from Alaska to Russia.

In case you didn't realize, gas is over $3.75 a gallon here in Texas. I imagine in California it's probably pushing $4. I guess if you next golf trip is in the same town you could probably save a few bucks

Yeah, gas is expensive. So is flying. It's a matter of which is cheaper and more convenient for my trip. There are plenty of places I could take a golf vacation around here that I can conveniently drive to and will cost me less than a plane trip.

[JKilgore44]

Yeah, gas is expensive. So is flying. It's a matter of which is cheaper and more convenient for my trip. There are plenty of places I could take a golf vacation around here that I can conveniently drive to and will cost me less than a plane trip.

Monteray comes to mind. More specifically, Pebble Beach, Spyglass, or Spanish Bay... No need for a plane, you just need to win the lottery to afford to play there

[pinbacksc]

yeah this pretty much sucks a$$

[twotacosfor99cents]

You don't have to pay these fees if you become an AAdvantage elite member.

If you fly over 25,000 miles a year on American, you've already got the AAdvantage card in your wallet.

If you don't - don't worry. I'm about to tell you a not-very-well-known tip.

American/AAdvantage has something called the Challenge. It's simple. Call an AAdvantage rep and say that you wish to enroll in the Gold or Platinum challenge. For the Gold challenge, you simply have to fly 5,000 miles within 90 days. For the Platinum, it's 10,000 miles. To complete the Gold challenge, you just need to fly to the east (or west) coast once. For Platinum, do it twice or go to London. Once you fly it, you're AA 'metal', and are not subject to these silly baggage fees, can use the business class check-in line, and the elite security line at some airports and are the first group to board the plane always. You also get priority with upgrades as well.

Another tip, if you enroll in the Challenge, is to do it in June. Challenges started in the first half of the calendar year (01Jan - 01Jun) will give you elite status to the end of the current membership year only. Challenges started in the latter half of the calendar year (16Jun - 16Dec) will earn you elite status for the remainder of the current membership year as well as for the following membership year.

So, if I enrolled in the Gold challenge on June 15th, that means I am AAdvantage Gold for the rest of 2008 and all of 2009.

Give it a try. It makes flying that much easier.

I'm actually AAdvantage Gold and will be doing the Platinum challenge next month with a trip to London. St. Andrews anyone?

edit: Yay, this was my post #100. Someone want to reward me with a Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2? Hee hee.

[T.J.K.]

It's all relative. If they didn't charge the fee, they would just rise the prices of the ticket.

[flap]

Spirit has been doing this for more than a year now on there trips to myrtle from laguarida.10 per bag at the gate and 5 per bag online up front.