Add Another Player to the ‘No Frills’ Air War as American Airlines Jumps In

We can add another player to the 'no frills' air war as American Airlines throws its hat into the growing pool of low-fare airlines.

According to Fox News, American Airlines, which flies out of Grand Junction, is planning to offer 'no frills' flights to places like Dallas and Orlando at a "cheap" price.

Specific details have not yet been made available, but the features of the 'no frills' flights could include things like no refunds or exchanges, and seat assignments only after check-in.

Travelers can also expect 'no frills' when it comes to luggage. Low-fare carriers like Frontier and Spirit offer "cheap" rates, but then tack on fees for things like choosing your own seat, and taking luggage. I recently experienced both airlines on the same trip - and both actually charged more for carry on baggage than they did for checked luggage. I overheard one passenger complaining about having to pay to have his personal device, a lap-top, on the plane.

Of course, low-fare airlines have already eliminated "free" snack and beverage services. Leg room may be the next commodity to go. While my recent experience with Spirit was a comfortable one, the flight with Frontier was painfully lacking in adequate leg room.

The bottom line is that while the front door price of airfares may look really good, you better find out up front what other fees are involved before committing. Is the cheapest fare really the least expensive after you factor in the extra fees, and the expenses you may have incurred driving to a bigger city like Denver or Salt Lake City.It may still be cheaper to go that route, but, you should determine if the difference is truly significant and worth the extra headache.

Only time will tell if  the  American Airlines  'no frills' flights will include its flights out of Grand Junction. We certainly can hope!