Many passengers understand that by unbundling airline ticket fees so that they do not include all the free services offered in the past that this helps airlines to continue to offer cheap airplane tickets as well as cheap vacation packages. However, many of the same fliers believe that the explosion of additional fees has gotten out of hand and certain fees should be rescinded.
The most hated fee is the one some airlines charge customers just for selecting their seat assignment. 52 percent of the travelers taking a 2,000 person poll by airfarwatchdog.com sited this fee as the most unacceptable.
Currently only a few U.S. airlines make passengers pay for selecting any seat on a flight. The concern of many is that other airlines, in their endless search for more revenue, may follow smaller airlines lead in this area.
Many large U.S. airlines are already charging for what are viewed as the most desirable economy seats, including exit aisle and bulkhead seats.
Customers often understand that certain services offered by the airlines do entail additional expense, such as meals, handling of checked bags, and even changing planned travel dates.
Assigning seats, which can be made online at no transaction cost to the airlines, is not a fee the typical flier can understand. Airlines who care about their customers perception of them would be wise to think twice about issuing fees for services that add no incremental expense to the airline.
Ticket change fees were cited in the poll by 33 percent of the respondents as the second most hated fee. Considering that change fees generally range between $100 to $150 for all tickets, even for tickets costing as little as $40, it is easy to understand why this fee upsets travelers forced to change their travel plans.
www.cheapfares.com