I don't fly anymore. I ain't going through the b/s if I don't have to.
But the wife does. She goes to visit grandkids sometimes. Usually to Colorado........ which she did last month.
We found the cheapest ticket we could find, and decided to buy it online. We went ahead and spent $50 extra to pre-pay for one checked bag. Same as paying in line at the airport, but just got it out of the way.
Show up at Little Rock, with flight to COS, layover in DFW. Check a bag, no problem. Agent clearly sees that we've paid for her first bag, and off she goes.
On the return trip, she was told "there is no record of your having purchased pre-paid baggage charges". She showed them the printout of her initial info, which clearly showed it, and all he'd do is say "Sorry, my records do not reflect that info". She pitched a fit and he finally let her go without extra payment.
She gets home, I get on the AA.COM Freq Flyer website and fill out a complaint email/form.
Today I get their response. Basically it says "We see no record of your having prepaid. Sorry. Bite me".
Never again will I/we pre-pay bags......just carry the danged cash to the airport.
Buttnuts.