On Aug. 7, American Airlines sent an email to AAdvantage members regarding changes to its program. You probably know the contents without reading it: More fees because of higher fuel costs. (This at a time when oil futures were dropping almost daily.)

Henceforth, the carrier is charging $50 each way for upgrading from discounted economy to Business or First Class on routes within and between the continental US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and also between North America and Central America. The one-way fee will also increase by $50 (from $300 to $350) for upgraded travel from discounted economy to Business or First Class from North America to Europe, India, Japan, China, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.

Our take: You have to look beyond outrage—even though this is the second increase this summer. Remember that fees are actually good because they discourage more people from upgrading. So if the American upgrade just got more expensive, then the upgrade line also just got shorter. See you up front.