American Airlines led the way charging for checked bags – with second checked bag fees, and then first checked bag fees back in 2008 – against a backdrop of the Great Recessiona nd $130 oil, and higher costs than competitors as a result of refusing to restructure in chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Now consumers are used to paying for checked bags, unless they’re flying a premium cabin, have status with the airline, or take the carrier’s co-brand credit card.
But did you know that while the TSA won’t let you bring water through a security checkpoint to carry onto your flight, that you can check it free on American Airlines? Just tell the agent that it’s “Zamzam.”
In a new policy change this month, American Airlies will allow passengers to check Zamzam holy water for free, if they identify it to the airline as being brought back from Saudi Arabia following a Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage. The airline says this change is to align with its oneworld partners.
Detail A policy has been created for customers that travel with Zamzam holy water from Saudi Arabia after their pilgrimage (Hajj or Umrah). Hajj is the larger pilgrimage that occurs once a year, while Umrah is the smaller pilgrimage that occurs yearround and is not restricted to a specific date or season.
You don’t even have to be originating from Saudi Arabia on your ticket to take advantage of this, as “American will accept Zamzam from customers that travel from any origin.”
The water must be in a sealed container up to five liters, labelled “and packed separate from any checked luggage and in a sealed plastic covering to prevent leakage.” The airline, though, disclaims any responsibility for breakage or spillage of your holy water. Even Allah cannot protect you from American Airlines mishandling bags, which they do more frequently than any other carrier.
Here’s the internal company memo on this policy change:
A man famously checked a beer can as a standalone bag and it made it all the way to baggage claim. American didn’t quite deliver a single bottle of deoderant, though. It most likely got lost in the airport baggage system. People have checked a garbage can and even a plate of sushi has been delivered out to baggage claim.
Often gratuitous bag checking – the can of beer, the loose deoderant – is done by passengers taking advantage of their free baggage allowance. Of course, just because you can doesn’t mean you should! But who’s in for showing up at an American Airlines ticket counter, insisting on checking 5 liters of water for free?
Proving once again that truth is stranger than fiction.
ZAM ZAM
According to a publication in the American Journal of Blood Research (December 15, 2020; Volume 10, Issue 6, Pages 386–396), Zamzam water is the most popular drinking water and is considered superior to other sources in all Arab and Islamic countries. The Zamzam water well is sterile and free of bacteria and fungi, making it an excellent choice for rehydrating thirsty emotional support dogs, cats, and their human companions. Zamzam water is rich in minerals. Based on that, the health properties of Zamzam water (taste, odor, and smell) are stable and do not change with time. Four essential metal ions are present enormously in Zamzam water. Those include sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
Thank you, American Airlines, for creating a policy to exempt Zamzam from your checked baggage fees when passengers transport holy water.
Can they discriminate? Can they take Muslim holy water for free and charge for Christian holy water?
DeodOrant
RichardinSF, any water packaged the same way and called zamzam water is good to go. No verification needed that the water is Muslim, Christian, Jewish or pagan holy water. And since Abraham, Moses and Jesus are considered Muslims by Muslims, it may as well be Jewish or Christian holy water too. And since the source of the water in present-day Saudi Arabia was likely also a source of water for pagan tribes in that area, it may as well be flying spaghetti monster “holy” water too.
“Let My Water go (free), so that they may celebrate a feast to Me ….”
Can’t wait to try this checking in with the ground handler at like LaCrosse, WI.
it is ridiculous to post this information. let’s take advantage of and exploit a religion for the sake of getting a freebie. if you can’t follow policy then don’t fly. shame on you for thinking this is a cool little travel hack.
AA’s contract agents at LSE for LSE-ORD should be able to pull up the policy reference just fine. If they ask where you got it from, just call it “divine mystery water” from Holy Land in MSP. [Not sure they sell “zamzam” water in Minneapolis, but that kind of water has been flying into MSP.] Newbies working for DHS to screen checked-in baggage may find it peculiar, but reference material is to be found that allows it just the same.
I think religious exceptions for luggage transport by commercial carrier means is unfair to people of all religions and none. If I happened to worship a sand god and wanted to take a similar volume and/or weight of sand from my self-declared holy spot, why should I be any more or less entitled to free transport of my belongings than someone wanting to transport the same volume and/or weight of some booze to which someone else swears to being great?
Make travel great again by breaking up the big airlines/airline JVs and mandating minimum service levels inclusive of at least some checked baggage allowance greater than zero bags for all.
My Holy Perrier has been blessed by a Priest what about that?
@GUWonder writes, “If I happened to worship a sand god and wanted to take a similar volume and/or weight of sand from my self-declared holy spot, why should I be any more or less entitled to free transport of my belongings than someone wanting to transport the same volume and/or weight of some booze to which someone else swears to being great?”
Passengers who worship American Airlines are frequently advised to “go pound sand.” Accordingly, American Airlines already has a religious exemption for transporting holy sand without paying an additional baggage fee.
I’m not kidding, a tv Preacher bought a Ranch just N of Dallas a few years ago, excitedly told his viewers “Hallelujah! I just discovered there’s a well on my ranch that flows Holy Water!” That wasn’t anything new, an amazing number of folks in that industry have claimed to be surprised they’d unintentionally acquired a blessed-source. And now they can all haul it around on AA! 5 liters of water only weighs 11 pounds!!
Ken A, its passengers who don’t worship American Airlines (or any airlines) and are equal opportunity critics of travel service providers who are frequently told — in word or action — to “go pound sand” when it comes to FlyerTalk which has been taken over by airline and government apologists of various sorts. And “God forbid” you criticize British Airways which has the most trafficked forum on the site. [The full list of the most popular forums on the site was discussed at the FT Mod Do hosted by IBJoel at the begging of this month.]
The TSA will let you bring bottled water thru the security checkpoint.
Simply declare it a medical necessity. Which it is. The human body needs water to survive.
I’ve traveled scores of times with bottled water.
so, you lie to the gate agent to be able to carry an extra 11 pounds of water with you on an airplane? I believe most people are smarter than that…
tulsa, any smarter than somebody who shows up with a jack–s, insists it’s an ’emotional support animal’? that’s why Gary’s work is so much fun to read, daily reports of idiots on (or trying to get on-or off) airplanes!
I have traveled to a Third World country and checked several 2 liter bottles of water. 10 liters can last 5 days.