Once you could purchase cheap airfare, be it cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages and know that you were getting a really cheap (i.e. great) deal. Now travelers have to be a lot more knowledgeable to determine the true cost of flying.
Airline fees for services such as checked bags, premium seating, food on flights, have almost quadrupled, to over $10 billion, in 08 vs. two years earlier. Ancillary fee revenue for 09, the first full year many airlines charged for checked bags, is not yet available.
American, Delta and United each took in over $1 billion from fees in 08. Given the amount of these fees, the only things travelers can take for granted is that new fees will be added over time and increased fees are likely. Airlines tend to move in packs and often follow the lead of the first airline to introduce a new, or higher, fee.
Fees often vary by airline and now cover things such as changing travel dates, blankets, WiFi, and unaccompanied minors.
Fees for the same service on the same airline can vary depending on the date a ticket was purchased, the date of travel, and whether a checked bag is processed ahead of time at an airlines website.
Continental recently decided to give its economy class passengers the option of paying a fee for a seat with extra leg room. It argued that by doing so it was providing higher value seats to customers who recognize that value.
Airlines charging a vast array of fees, argue that such fees allow them to continue to allow cheap airplane tickets and customers to select which fees they are willing to pay for. Consumer advocates argue that fees for services customers were included in the ticket price, such as checked bags, are simply airlines way of hiding the true cost of flying. On the other hand, they understand and agree with fees for value added services, such as charging for Wi-Fi service.
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