The very notion of cheap fares, be they cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, disappears as soon as a passenger checks an overweight bag weighing 71 to 100 lbs for an international flight. Continental Airlines has raised its overweight checked bag fee to $400 on most international flights while American Airlines is charging $450 on its Asian flights.
United Airlines is now charging $400 for overweight bags on flights outside North America.
Airline fees vary widely with checked bag fees as high as $43 per bag for the first bag checked that is not over an airlines weight restriction. Spirit Airline charges $38 to check a bag on a domestic flight and $43 for a first checked bag for international flights when bags are checked in at the airport.
Frontier Airlines charges $50 to change an international ticket compared to Delta Air Lines and United which charge five times that amount.
Most airlines charge to book a free frequent flier award ticket over the phone. Some airlines even charge frequent fliers who reserve award tickets online. US Airways currently charges the most to book a free award ticket: $55 to $90 for a phone reservation vs. $25 to $50 online.
Currently Spirit is the only airline charging for carry-on bags. Spirit passengers pay $30 per carry-on (that will not fit underneath a passengers seat) if they notify the airline online in advance about a carry-on bag. Otherwise the charge is $35 when calling on the phone and $40 at the airport.
Airlines claim that fees keep their prices low, helps cover their costs, and empowers passengers to select which services they want to pay for.
American says that its $450 fee per overweight bag was imposed to cover fuel costs and discourage fliers from checking overweight bags. Overweight bags are not allowed on its European and Indian flights. www.cheapfares.com