FORT WORTH, Texas - The idea of paying a single, simple fare to fly on an airliner is becoming as quaint as stewardesses in short skirts. American Airlines is about to accelerate the trend of breaking the cost of a trip into an airfare plus many smaller fees. Starting next year, American, which led a stampede by U.S. carriers to charge customers for checking even a single suitcase, plans to imitate the a la carte pricing structure. The system was pioneered by Air Canada. There are likely to be a few basic fare plans, and travellers can pick additional services - for a fee. Fans of unbundling, as it's called, say it gives travellers lower base fares with the option of paying for extras that they really want, from beverages to blankets. Some travellers are wary, however, and suspect the airlines are just trying to chisel them a...
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