Airline Fees

From SmarterTravel

Telephone booking fees

Many of the major U.S. airlines have instituted additional fees for booking tickets through their call centers, at airport reservations desks, or at city ticket offices. The fees range from $5 to $35 for most flights. Internet bookings on individual airline websites remain free of charge. Among the major domestic airlines, only Southwest does not charge for phone bookings.

Bag-check fees

Checked Baggage

In 2008, all the major U.S. airlines, as well as Air Canada, started charging between $10 and $25 each way for a second checked bag, and many began charging for the first. Southwest is an exception, charging $25 each way for an extra third bag, but nothing for the first two. On May 22, 2008, Southwest reaffirmed its two-bags-free policy, stating it "has no plans to change that."

Weight and Size Limits

Airlines have weight and size restrictions for checked luggage.

Depending on the airline each bag must:

• Weigh ~50 pounds (22.5 kg) or less.
• Not exceed ~62 inches when you total length plus width plus height.

Any baggage that exceeds the limit will be charged. If a piece of baggage violates both, then the charge can be twice the amount.

Inflight food fees

Though free meals and drinks in-flight are still the norm for international travel, they are increasingly scarce on domestic flights.

Rebooking fees

Also called "change fees," rebooking fees are a penalty assessed for changing your itinerary after you've purchased a ticket. Of the major U.S. airlines, only Southwest does not assess a fee; instead it issues a credit good for a future flight.

• JetBlue: $100
• United Airlines: $150
• Delta Airlines: $100

Seat preference fees

In 2007, Northwest Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to begin charging for seat selection within the coach cabin. Soon after, other airlines adopted similar policies. Some airlines charge only for particularly desirable seats, such as larger seats near the front of the plane or exit rows. Others, such as Spirit, charge for any seat reservation, including middle seats, often charging different prices for different seats based on desirability. Passengers willing to wait until check-in to be randomly assigned a seat do not pay any of these charges.

Chart of fees for domestic carriers

Quick links to airlines in chart

• Air Canada
• airTran
• Alaska
• American
• Continental
• Delta
• Frontier
• Hawaiian
• JetBlue
• Midwest
• Northwest
• Spirit
• Southwest
• United
• US Airways
• Virgin America

First table

Second table

Third table

Fourth Table

Unusual fees

• Denver-based Frontier Airlines charges a $100 carry-on fee for antlers.

• Many airlines are now charging you to fly Standby -- there's a charge if you want to hop on an earlier flight.

• JetBlue is now charging for pillows and blankets. It's $7 on flights longer than two hours, although you do get a $5 gift certificate to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Supposedly the pillow was developed to block out things like dust mites.

Frequent Flyer Fees

Airlines charge a host of frequent flyer fees for redeeming miles for an award ticket, including ticketing fees, booking fees, change fees, and fees for booking on partner airlines. It's also possible to face mileage activation fees, fees for keeping miles, upgrade fees, and the like.

Don't be intimidated into avoiding peak travel dates. You might be surprised at the availability of FF seats during popular travel times.

Taxes

Typically, advertised (or "published") airfares in the U.S. do not include government-imposed taxes. Put another way, the low price consumers first see is usually not what they will end up paying. See airline taxes for a current breakdown of domestic and international airfare taxes.

External links

• Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees chart (PDF)
• Ultimate Guide to Frequent Flyer Fees chart (PDF)
• List of New 2008 Airline Fees