10 Worst Airlines for Extra Fees (Think You Save Money By Flying a Discount Airline? Think again)

ABC NEWS ^ | 05/05/2010 | Scott Mayerovitz

[SeekAndFind]

Those little fees sure do add up. Airlines across the county have been changing customers extra for all sorts of services, from checking bags to changing reservations, and it's paying off handsomely for them.

Last year, U.S. airlines took in more than $7.8 billion in fees from passengers, according to the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And those fees are rising quickly. In the last three months of 2009, the airlines charged passengers $1.9 billion in extra fees, up a whopping 18.3 percent from the same period the prior year.

And there are signs that things are only going to get worse for passengers.

Delta, followed by Continental, then United, then US Airways and finally American, all raised their checked-bag fees at the start of 2010. And if that wasn't bad enough, Spirit announced last month that it will soon charge up to $45 to place your carry-on bag in the overhead bin.

"You can easily spend more on fees these days than on your fare," said George Hobica, president of airfarewatchdog.com. "Worst case scenario: an unaccompanied minor traveling with his pet cat and checking two pieces of luggage each weighing over 50 pounds."

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

If these “extra fees” keep the price of a basic ticket down, I'm all for them. They are just user fees — what's wrong with the “user-pay” principle?

[Notwithstanding]

no no no

others must subsidize my wants

[Zakeet]

From the article: Southwest doesn't charge for checked bags, phone reservation or changing tickets but still took in millions of dollars from assorted fees -- including the $75 it charges each way to bring your pet onboard.

"Southwest Airlines has been smart enough to not pit themselves against their own customers," said Jeff Pecor, of travel site Yapta.com. "In fact, they're using the 'me versus the airline' issue to its competitive advantage by marketing 'no baggage fees' quite heavily. The airline has managed to find ancillary revenue in areas other than baggage fees, so it begs to be asked: Why can't other low-cost carriers?"

[Alberta's Child]

"You can easily spend more on fees these days than on your fare," said George Hobica, president of airfarewatchdog.com. "Worst case scenario: an unaccompanied minor traveling with his pet cat and checking two pieces of luggage each weighing over 50 pounds."

Dear Mr. Hobica:

I hate to break the bad news to you, but your "fees" are really part of your fare after all. The fact that the airline calls it something else doesn't change anything.

Sincerely,

Alberta's Child

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

If these “extra fees” keep the price of a basic ticket down, I'm all for them. They are just user fees — what's wrong with the “user-pay” principle?

Nothing, in and of itself. However, a lot of the things the users are paying for are "perks" like checking in luggage (not extra bags, ALL bags). I suppose we can consider people to be whiners for actually wanting their clothing and toiletries to accompany them to their destinations, however.

[KarlInOhio]

From what I understand, the government considered the fees to not be part of the flight itself, so are currently exempt from the extra taxes the federales charge for air travel. Higher fees/lower ticket = less taxes. I'd be happy with a free ticket with fuel, air and seat rental charged as fees.

I don't expect them to stay tax exempt for long because Congress has realized that a significant portion of the total air travel price is now untaxed and is now reaching out with the greedy hand.

[Domandred]

My wife just flew US Airways from Boise to Phoenix. The biggest problem was they didn’t mention the checked baggage fee AT ALL when we purchased the tickets in advance. It wasn’t until she was standing at the check in counter that they said it would be $60 there and $60 back.

Pissed her off to no end, but what can you do when you’re already there and ready to go?

[SeekAndFind]

Pissed her off to no end, but what can you do when you’re already there and ready to go?

Are you in favor of Transportation regulation REQUIRING airlines to mention all possible fees in advance without hiding them in the fine print ?

[AngelesCrestHighway]

How about a $45.00 fee to guarantee no terrorists are on board..I’ll pay that!

[Alberta's Child]

Southwest Airlines is smart because it imposes fees in such a way that few passengers meet the conditions to pay any one individual fee even if most passengers ultimately pay one or more fees when they fly.

If 5% of the passengers pay the pet fee, another 10% pay an extra fee for heavy luggage, another 15% pay an extra fee for checking two bags, etc., then a lot of folks end up paying the fees anyway.

[Domandred]

I’m against any and all companies, not limited to just airlines, using the dishonest practice of hiding fees in small print or not mentioning them up front.

[dsrtsage]

I would imagine the justification for the “fees” is because of the fuel usage the weight implies. However, if they want to be “fair”, then each person should be charged for each pound of weight they bring to the plane (including themselves)...of course we know what the outcome of that would be. I do kind of like the implication that these fees have come about as a way to lower ticket prices but recovering the lower cost with the fees, and paying less taxes to boot. Cool.

[Trust but Verify]

Airlines have gone about the fees for checked baggage wrong from the start. They should charge for carry-ons ONLY. That would result in flights that actually come and go on time instead of having to sit there for 30 mins while the cheapest people on earth collect all their earthly belongings from the overhead compartment.

[dragnet2]

Flying commercial sucks....Going to the dentist is more enjoyable....Thank God I don’t have to go to any airports any longer....Living hell....

[Overtaxed]

Southwest doesn't charge for checked bags, phone reservation or changing tickets but still took in millions of dollars from assorted fees -- including the $75 it charges each way to bring your pet onboard.

$75/pet is cheap compared to other airlines. In the past, only seeing-eye dogs were allowed to fly Southwest.

[SeekAndFind]

I gather you’ll never want to go overseas anytime in the future... or take a ship if you have to ??

[-YYZ-]

Sounds like a screw job to me - I guess you really have to check all this stuff out beforehand.

FWIW, I flew Air Canada’s Tango discount fares Toronto to Calgary and back last week, and although not super cheap, two checked bags of up to 50 lbs each, plus a carry-on and a personal item (purse, briefcase, etc) are still included in the airfare. In my case my free checked luggage consisted of one large suitcase, a ski bag, and a ski boot bag (you get a twofer on the ski and boot bags). I was pleasantly surprised.

[Arrowhead1952]

IIRC, Southwest Airlines is employee owned for the most part too.

[BenKenobi]

I’d support paying by the pound. :) I’m shocked SW airlines hasn’t adopted that either.