Extra charges tacked onto advertised commercial airline flights are costing consumers billions of dollars each year. Baggage fees on American Airlines alone added up to more than 3 billion dollars last year and reservation change fees totaled more than 2.3 billion. But, what about the non-so-avoidable charges such as booking fees (or credit/debit cards fees and a new item airlines are charging for: carry-on fees).
Baggage fees
Almost all airlines now charge customers for items of non carry-on luggage.
Now, two U.S. airlines, Spirit and Allegiant, have recently began to charge passengers for their carry-on cases.
These kinds of policies are immensely frustrating for consumers who have more than one bag or an item of luggage deemed too big for the plane cabin.On top of that many people now say they distrust the airlines’ weighing systems.
Seat selection charges
One of the more recent additional cost options to come to the fore has seen some airlines charge a premium to reserve seats on their aircraft. This means if you want a window or isle seat, you’ll have to pay up.
In the United States, Delta, American Airlines, and low-cost carriers U.S. Airways, Frontier, Spirit and Allegiant have implemented charges for “preferred seating.”
This policy can be especially problematic for customers who are booking for large groups who would like to be seated together. Some customers have also complained about giving up their window or isle seat to allow families to sit together.
Credit and debit card surcharges
The most unavoidable fee to be tacked onto the advertised cost of an airline ticket.
A common complaint of those booking plane tickets online is the unavoidable charges that often accompany paying for flights by debit or credit card. The UK government’s trading and competition authority, the Office of Fair Trading, last week ruled that debit card surcharges must be included in the headline price of flights.
