Attack of The Killer Fees!

With the rising cost of fuel, the airlines are trying to keep themselves afloat without raising airfares across the board. That can make travel difficult if you’re in the dark about whether or not your airline of choice is charging for services that most travelers take for granted. With some research and preplanning, you should be able to limit your “fee surprises”. Here are some of the fees you may be charged before you even get to the airport:

 

Booking fees

Potential cost: $5 to $25.

Some airlines are instituting a booking charge of $10 to $25 if you want to make a reservation any way but through the airline’s Web site. If you call the airline, most charge you at least $15 per ticket for phone reservations. You can also expect to pay $5 to $15 per ticket on sites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity for securing your reservation. The best way to avoid these fees is to use travel comparison and booking sites to shop around, but make your arrangements through an airline’s Web site. It’s the best way to get a fee-free booking.

 

Pick-your-seat fees

Potential cost: $15 to $299.

When flying coach, everyone wants extra legroom. A subscription to United Airlines’ Economy Plus charges $299 annually for a subscription, which gets you and a traveling companion seats with 5 inches of extra legroom whenever available. On Northwest, booking an exit-row seat costs $15 extra, while American charges consumers who didn’t book directly through the airline a $15 fee to change their seats. Make sure to look for these hidden fees when picking your seat.

 

Fuel fees

Potential cost: $14 to $70.

Airlines are passing along their increased fuel costs to their customers. British Airways has increased its fuel surcharges by $6, to $70 for flights longer than nine hours, and $66 for shorter flights. Air France followed suit, announcing it would double its fuel surcharge (to $13.53 per segment) until the price of oil dropped below $65 per barrel for 30 consecutive days. The best way to compare prices for your international flight is on the airline’s U.S. site.  Airlines are required, per U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, to include any fuel surcharges in the base price. You won’t be able to avoid the fee, but you will be able to judge the fares on a level playing field.

 

 

Fees for redeeming freebies (frequent flier miles included)

Potential cost: $15 to $300.

If you plan to cash in those “free” tickets you earned, you should be prepared to pay for the privilege. Northwest Airlines charges $50 for last-minute reward ticket redemptions, while American charges a $150 to $300 surcharge when consumers use miles to upgrade a coach ticket they purchased for less than the full fare. In addition, reward travel can rarely be booked online, and vouchers never can. You are forced to use the phone and call in to an agent for help,” he says. Then you’re right back to Fee No. 1: a $15 to $25 charge from most airlines for booking over the phone. To help limit these fees, make sure to read the fee fine print before you book reward travel to make sure you know up front what you will be expected to pay. You should compare the cost of redeeming the voucher with what the same flight would cost if you bought it outright.

 

Yes, it DOES seem like every time we book travel, whether it’s airfare, hotel or rental cars, we are bombarded with hidden fees, taxes and surcharges.  Our only defense is to do your homework, ask questions and read the fine print before you hand over the credit card.

 

Stay tuned for our next installment of “Attack of the Killer Fees” and learn about the fees charges you can expect once at the airport or in the air.  Sign up for our newsletter at www.smartseniortravel.com to receive this informative and potentially money saving article.

 

Technorati Tags: airline fees, booking fees, travel surcharges, travel fees, fuel surcharges

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