Top Ten Most Obnoxious Hidden Airline Fees
Posted by
George on Friday, September 21, 2007 to
Airfare Tips
Let’s face it. As an industry, airlines have never made money since the Wright Brothers. Because of this mismanagement, they’ve decided to try lining their coffers by coming up with a slew of obnoxious extra charges. We’re not so steamed about paying to see TV, or using the Internet aloft, or even paying for something to eat or drink. After all, planes are not flying restaurants or movie theaters, and why should we all pay for a movie that only some of us watch? And we’re not even peeved by those escalating excess baggage charges, which can sometimes cost more than your fare, although some airlines (especially international ones) clearly overdo it. But passengers overdo it, too, and an airline ticket should not entitle you to move your entire household by air. Let those who over pack pay for the privilege. However, the following fees seem nothing more than new profit centers for the airlines, and whatever additional costs these services could possibly impose on the airlines are clearly lower than what passengers pay.
1. Making a reservation on the phone or in person
Fee: $5-$25
Can it possibly cost them that much for a simple ten minute call? Surely they don’t pay their reservationists that much. United levies $15 for the privilege of speaking to a human. American, JetBlue, and Southwest $10 (for internet only fares in Southwest’s case, but they do make exceptions we were told). Northwest and Virgin America charge just $5.
2. Re-banking frequent flyer miles
Fee: $50-100
If you cash in your miles and decide not to use your ticket, you’ll be hit with a fee to place the miles back into your account. Why? What cost exactly is involved here on the airlines’ part? These tickets are issued electronically, so what’s the big deal?
3. Cashing in frequent flyer miles without sufficient advance notice
Fee: $0-100
Who says frequent flyer tickets are free? Some airlines will let you book a frequent flyer seat even up to the day of travel with no fee. These include Airtran, JetBlue, Northwest and Southwest. But others (Continental, Delta, and United) charge $75 if you book without enough notice (defined as 3 days on Continental but an unreasonable 22 days on Delta); and American charges an insane $100 if you book 6 days or fewer before departure.
4. Bringing a pet onboard in the cabin
Fee: $50-100 (each way)
These fees have skyrocketed lately. Muffy and Buffy won’t be ringing the call button for a glass of milk, and they won’t be carrying bags or imposing on the airline’s bottom line in any way; but their fare might end up costing more than yours. Most airlines now charge $80 each way. On United you’ll pay $85 until May 5, but $100 after that and on JetBlue “just” $50.
5. Checking luggage
Fee: $3-25 (each way)
We’re talking here just about checking even one bag, even if they’re not oversized or overweight (that’s a whole other story). Most major airlnes now charge $25 for a second checked bag, and we wouldn't be surprised if next they start charging for every bag. Spirit Airlines charges $5 for each of the first two bags if paid for online, $10 each otherwise. The third bag costs a whopping $100, more if it’s oversized or overweight. Allegiant. charges $3 for the first, $5 for the second. Air Canada gives you a discount for not checking baggage, which is a sneaky way of charging you if you do.
It’s not like the airlines are giving us bigger overhead bins, so that’s the big idea here? Don’t be surprised if you see other airlines following suit.
6. Getting a refund when a fare goes down
Fee: $25 to $200 or more.
If you bought a TV from Costco or BestBuy and they lowered the price the following week, chances are you could get a refund no questions asked. Even Apple gave credits when they dropped the price of their iPhone soon after launching it. But most airlines either will refund nothing (British Airways and most other international carriers) or they’ll charge an “administrative fee” of up to $100 on a domestic ticket, and even more on an international one. What justifies this? Does it actually cost them $100 to spend a few minutes to rewrite your electronic ticket? I doubt it. Don't be surprised if eventually airlines go with a "you buy it you fly it" policy: if the fare goes down, tough.
7. Flying standby on the same day of travel.
Fee: $0-50.
Time was, if there were empty seats on a later or earlier flight on the same day as your original, the airline would confirm you for free. But now, most airlines charge to take an earlier or later flight on the same day as your original flight if you want a confirmed seat (you can still take your chances on many airlines and standby without a confirmation for free, but that's not the same thing).
Southwest is a different animal altogether: there’s no fee to go standby as such, but you’ll have to pay the “walk up” last minute fare, which could be hundreds more than your original discount fare.
8. Paying for lap children
Fee: $10 to 10% of the adult fare (international flights).
What on earth is the meaning of this? Your kid isn’t taking up a seat, and certainly isn’t partaking of the free food and booze (if any). Is the little tyke responsible for consuming extra jet fuel? On a fare of say, $1200, you’ll be billed $120 or more for the privilege of holding the child in your lap for 10 hours (on a business class fare of, say, $5000 you’ll pay $500). By the way, if there's a fuel surcharge on your flight, your kiddie will pay that too: as much as $90 each way.
9. Getting a seat assignment
Fee: $5-$11 each way
Air Canada, AirTran and Allegiant are some of the carriers that now charge for this “perk”. AirTran charges $5 if you’re on a discounted coach ticket; Allegiant charges $11. AirTran charges $15 if you want to grab an exit row seat and Northwest recently upped the charge from $15 to $20 (but I still think it's worth it).
10. Using the lavatory
Fee: OK, airlines are not installing pay toilets. Yet. But the way things are going….
Read more:
What to do if you're bumped from a flight (and how to avoid it)
Why don't other fare comparison sites include Southwest Airlines (and why you should care)
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By Jamie on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I could not believe it when I saw that Spirit Airlines started charging for check-in luggage! I think that is definitely going a little overboard. Now more people are going to bring "carry-ons" and the plane will be delayed longer because they're trying to shove the "obviously not a carry-on" carry-on into the overhead compartment. Compartment NOT locker!!
By Michael on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Unless I'm mistaken, American Airlines charges $25 to confirm a same-day change, but lets you standby for free.
I seldom fly standby, and have never been charged a fee for the few times I did. I was shocked last month when US Airways wanted $25 to let me standby for an earlier flight, as I didn't realize anyone charged for it.
This has to be one of the most stupid fees ever. Letting passengers fly earlier when there are seats available benefits everyone. By flying earlier, missed connections and other problems are less likely and it frees up a seat on the later flight that could be sold to someone else.
By georgehobica on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 1:09 PM
Some airlines will "overlook" the fee, and it's possible that you might show up at the last minute and they'll let you onboard an earlier or later flight if it suits them (your original flight is overbooked for instance), but as far as we know American will usually charge if you ask to go on an earlier or later flight.
By Barbara on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 1:17 PM
I am flying on Delta this Thursday. The flight I'm taking is overbooked, but the earlier flight is less than half booked. Still, they want $50 bucks to let me help THEM by taking the earlier flight!
If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get them to stop sucking us dry for every last cent, be my guest!
By Stacia on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 1:41 PM
The thign that really frosts me is when they charge you for talking to a human because their system won't LET you book the ticket online, like when you're flying in and out of two different airports attached to the same city (like Washington DC's or San Francisco's 3 local airports). It seems inconceivable that they can't make their internet system actually book these tickets, and yet they charge me because I HAVE to call them to do it! Normally I won't book on an airline that does this.
And then the charge to book a free ticket within 6 days of the flight---come on! If you have that many unsold seats, you should be glad I'm using up my miles to take the extra inventory off your hands.
By Gwen on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 2:39 PM
One way to get around the "talk to you" fee is to hold a res online (AA and [I think] Delta), then call with that on-hold res number.... Since you've already done their job, they ignore the phone fee.
By Rebecca on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 2:55 PM
I flew Air Canada in July, and was foolish enough to forget to bring a heavy jacket to combat the sub-Arctic temperatures on the plane. When I asked for a blanket, the flight attendant responded that blankets would be coming around shortly, on sale for a mere $5. Admittedly, I should have brought a jacket - but if they want to save money, cut down on the A/C, not the services!
By matthewsteri@comcast.net on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 3:19 PM
I paid extra with Allegiant to check my bags and to select my seat so my bargain fare was probably not such a deal after all but the worst part of my trip was that you couldn't even get a drink of water without coughing up 2 bucks. It was my first experience on a no frills airline and I wonder how many people go on vacation with no baggage or want to sit with a stranger if they assign your seats or pack a box lunch. It is probably not a savings after all but it was a learning experience.
By Jennifer on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 4:13 PM
As someone who has been stuck next to (or behind or in front of or across the aisle from, or even on the opposite end of the plane from) someone with a crying child on their lap, I am all for charging a fee for the 'lap riders'! Maybe it will discourage people from taking children that will cry the entire plane ride? Not saying they all do, but when a crying child is on a plane, it's pretty much a horrible trip for anyone within earshot. If you don't like this reasoning, perhaps you should imagine you own a movie theater- would you always let two people in for the price of one if they promised to share a seat? Probably not.
By Christin on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Re: pets and kids. Both are nuisances on commercial pets, so why shouldn't someone have to pay more to bring them on? If I have the "privilege" of sitting next to a screaming "on-lap" baby for a 6 hour flight, I sure hope the parents have to pay somehow. Likewise, if I spend the flight sneezing on account of someone's cat being under the seat.
By Mommyprof on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Um, it's more than 10% of what you paid. You pay 10% of what a non-restricted adult fare is, which can be more than what the lap is paying.
Please don't paint all children with the same brush. Many parents work very, very hard to control our kids and keep them happy on a plane. Either that, or tell Grandma tough luck. We'll be seeing you when the tyke is 13.
By Andrew Betancourt on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 4:52 PM
The way I read things, maybe those hijackers on 9/11 had enough and crashed the planes to teach the airlines a lesson for their overcharges and underservice.
By Nico_Suave on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 4:57 PM
It's even worse than this article reports.
I booked a trip on Allegiant for Christmas. For a round trip flight, they charged $6 for a person checking one bag and $16 for checking 2 bags. There is also an almost unavoidable $8.50 fee per person to book over the internet! This fee is $5 higher over the phone. The only way to avoid the fee is to go to the airport office in person. And they are not open for regular business hours. The one in Fort Wayne is open 3 times a week for only 2 hours a day. The base fare was only $89 each way
We also booked travel on AA from SLC to Rome recently, and are bringing along our infant. I am flying the whole thing on a Frequent Flier ticket for $165 in taxes and fees. We saved money by breaking my wife and infant's trip (on the exact same itinerary) into 2 segments. Our infant flies free on the domestic portion. So our infant is only paying for the trip Chicago to Europe and back. She is paying 10% of my wife's full fare in the international segment ($850), plus all taxes and fees, AND AN $85 FUEL SURCHARGE EACH WAY!!! I don't even pay this fuel surcharge on my frequent flier ticket. My infant's total is over $275! That's almost 30% of full fare!
I would certainly add Fuel Surcharges to the list of maddening charges on the above list. The idea that they are somehow seperate from the airline's base fare is ridiculous and disingenuous. Any portion of the fare that goes to the airline is the base fare, whetherits going to the airline's profits or the various aspects of its overhead. Only that portion going directly to outside taxes and outside airport fees (and not to the airlines at all) should ethically be separated in the pricing of tickets.
By Mark Steinacher on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 5:09 PM
Bear in mind that weather can positively impact catching an earlier flight. In February I was in Ottawa, heading to Toronto. Air Canada not only waived the fee for jumping onto an earlier flight, but went out of their way to find folk to fill seats. Nothing like a departure lounge full of storm-stayed passengers to bring on an exception to the rule. They did, however, make it quite clear that this was an oddity and that we could expect to pay the fee during normal weather.
The blankets thing is clever: at altitude, it not an excess of A/C, but a lack of active heat. They win both ways...saving money by not heating the plane and then selling blankets. :-)
By Tod on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 5:20 PM
As a frequent traveller with a child, I can certainly understand the annoyance of fellow fliers when my child mis-behaves. However most parents are sincerely doing everything in their power to keep their child quiet and happy. Children are a fact of life, and flying with them is a necessity with today's lifestyles. Perhaps instead of nursing a bad attitude over having to only listen to a child on a flight, other travellers could think about the parents and how they can help out. I travel internationally quite frequently, and on a 14 hour flight with a 2 year-old, any sympathetic assistance or even conversation is always deeply appreciated! Airlines are becoming increasingly intolerant to children and make no allowances or exceptions regarding their comfort or that of their parents. Just remember if you are miserable on a flight with a noisy or sick child - chances are his/her parents are 10 times more so !
By Tony on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 5:31 PM
I believe these are the reasons for a passenger Bill of Rights. If the airlines want to have all these charges, then I believe if they violate any of the standard protocol,they must pay us. Example: We are charged for going on an earlier flight. If the flight we are scheduled on leaves later than scheduled...then they owe us $50.00 the same fee they charge when we change our flight time.
We pay to check our luggage..if it doesn't arrive when we do they need to pay us for the inconvience.
I think it is only fair that any fee they charge the passangers must be compensated if they fail to deliver.
I bet all those annoying fee would be gone in a matter of days.
By vb on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:01 PM
I fly with three children and all have always had their own PAID seat. They all have 100s of thousands of frequent flyer miles and fly 5 -10 times a year.
They may not be the best behaved, but they do the best they can. When I need to walk my 22 month old up and down the aisle it is because she can't bear to be restrained in her car seat for another hour. It would be nice if passengers didn't try to trip us and if the flight attendants didn't chase us out of the back galley. My toddler fiddling with the locks on the carts (while I am holding her) isn't going to cause the plane to crash - but it might entertain her for a few minutes and keep her from screaming in your ear.
I pay full fares for the two older children and depending on the airline 1/2 or 3/4 (or full fare) fare for the baby. A little courtesy and common sense would be nice from the airlines. My kids don't kick the seats and don't throw their food, don't expect them to sit 5 rows away from me - and don't make a big deal about getting us 4 seats together.
By Nico_Suave on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:01 PM
I am sick of hearing people complain so vehemently about crying babies on planes. I flew many times next to infants before I became a parent recently. It's not so bad. If you want to work or read or sleep, bring earphones or earplugs. If you want to talk to your neighbor, just deal with it. You're not at a movie theater or a concert performance. Noise pollution is part of air travel. The white noise of the plane is actually pretty loud and cancels out much of the volume of the child's cries.
Now, if the parents are not doing their best to try to calm the child, then I think you may have a valid complaint. But I think most parents DO try their best (They're having a worse time than you, by the way). Babies cry, that’s part of what they do. But they and their parents have a right to visit their families across the country or meet business travel obligations. Forbidding air travel for babies and their parents seems to be the implicit proposal behind the vehement complaints. This is as tantrum-like as the babies’ behavior they are complaining about. This is not Communist Russia. We all have a right to move freely about the country. Yet some don’t think about the freedom of babies and their parents to travel.
The comments above seem to be in favor of fees for lap children as a FINE, not as payment for airline services rendered. If those fees went to nearby inconvenienced passengers, it might make some sense (although I still might not agree with it), but the idea that these fees should go to the airlines does not make sense. What are we paying the airlines for? Very obese people are sometimes made to buy a second seat. But in that case, the situation is made better for other passengers because no one is squeezed by someone who can’t fit in their own seat. But charging for lap children helps no passengers because the baby’s crying is unchanged by the fees and, make no mistake, they will still fly when the fees are assessed. Air travel with an infant is almost never optional to any great degree.
By Nathan Pralle on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:15 PM
I mostly agree with these points, but a few comments:
1. A lot of the fees I see noted here are charged simply to keep customers from doing things that disrupt business too often. It's similar to us charging support minutes for each phone call they give us. If we don't charge them anything, they call all the time -- if they know they're being timed, they make it short and to the point. It helps keep everyone honest. THAT being said, there's a difference between a fee to discourage and a fee to rob, and clearly some are over the top.
2. I'm very happy there's a fee to bring an animal on board. I don't need Fifi running amok and causing havoc or Oscar's fur flying through the air and causing a billion people to burst into allergic reactions. Sounds like a bad idea to let this happen a lot.
3. I'm rather fond of the idea of getting a refund for not checking luggage. When I purchase a ticket, I assume that includes standard luggage checking fees. I'm VERY annoyed when I have to pay for luggage past that. But, if I choose to NOT check luggage that day, I think I *should* receive a refund equivalent to what I didn't cost the plane in fuel, because I already paid for it.
4. Paying for children -- I don't mind paying something for my kid, because he/she's probably eating up a bit of fuel, but 10% sounds very excessive. On our flights from LAX->SYD, that's going to cost us a lot of money to cart a baby around. Ugh.
By Emily Jahnke on
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 11:42 PM
I recently needed to fly for my son's funeral and I was surprised to be able to book a reasonable ticket price for a flight that day on USAirways. I tried to book on-line, but due to the lack of time I needed to talk to an agent. There was an additional charge to speak to the agent. This agent was very helpful. I was also requested to book a return time. I was not sure how long I would need to be there, which I had no idea how long I would be gone. So I booked some time in advance. I realized I could not stay the extra days due to my ill mother being at home alone. I called to change the date of my flight. I was able to accomplish this at an additional charge of $200.00+ to make the change. The agent was asked if there is a bereavement discount and there was not. I originally thought the difference might be $50 or $75, not more than $200. I booked it because I had no choice. The flight was overcrowed and I spent the time jammed into the window seat in the last row with the woman in front leaning her seat back and a tropical depression to make the ride rough. It was the worse ride I ever had. I agree that the airlines take advantage of people in situations they cannot control.
By CJ on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Had to change NWA e ticket for new date. NWA charged $100. for each (4 tickets). Within 24 hrs. price dropped $30. Called NWA for 'repricing'. Told it would cost an additional $100 per ticket for change as one change was all that was allowed. What happened to 24 hr. grace period? Felt i was 'ripped off'.
CJ Quick, Temperance MI
By CJ on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Had to change NWA e ticket for new date. NWA charged $100. for each (4 tickets). Within 24 hrs. price dropped $30. Called NWA for 'repricing'. Told it would cost an additional $100 per ticket for change as one change was all that was allowed. What happened to 24 hr. grace period? Felt i was 'ripped off'.
CJ Quick, Temperance MI
By Carol Brown on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 1:32 AM
Northwest Airlines charges you $15 for an aisle or window seat after they've given out some (seemingly tiny) number of seats. I met a man this week who bought a FULL FARE ticket from Seattle to Minneapolis (over $700 on a ticket that is more likely to be $350--or less) and STILL had to pay extra to get an aisle seat! (I can't believe this is good for allegiance to NWA.)
By Gloria on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Nathan Pralle, you have such a double standard for ticketing. You say you don't want dogs like "Fifi running up and down the aisles," yet you complain about the 10% cost of taking your infant to Australia! Do you think on a flight to Sydney that your infant will not have at least one uncontrollable crying jag, disrupting your neighbors who all paid a hefty price for their tickets???
I have a 10-year-old, quiet Chihuahua who is like my child, never barks, is well-behaved and gets very scared when left for boarding. If I even take her on a simple two-hour flight, it costs $185 plus a vet visit to get a special certificate, bringing the cost to well over $200, in many cases more than my ticket. She would stay in her case for the entire flight and would be sleeping, certainly not crying or otherwise disruptive as your infant would be. Yet, to take her on a simple two-hour flight, I would have to pay more than you probably would to take your sobbing infant all the way to Australia!
There's no logic in that; I can understand fees, but they should be based on distance, size of dog, and that sort of thing, not just simply cost $200 every time out.
10% of the ticket would be a much fairer fee for dogs as well as infants-- and it would be more on longer flights and less for shorter ones, as it should be.
By christina fink on
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 7:54 PM
I know that many people love their pets like children but to equate the two is ridiculous. Charging an extra fee because you think a child is annoying.... Well I know many adults who were very irritating on flights.... how much extra should we charge them?
By Nathan Pralle on
Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Gloria,
It depends on what you call, "double standard", I guess. I do not equate dogs/cats with children as you do, so my perspective is different. Airplanes are designed to carry people around for the convenience of people; pets and luggage are secondary to this task in my mind.
As Christina touched on, children cry and that sucks, but as long as the parents are trying to do whatever they can to calm it down again, no harm no foul in my mind. Feel free, of course, to get annoyed with the parent that lets their toddler run free! But as she said, there are other passengers that annoy as much or more than this -- I've sat near some pretty bad drunks on international flights and wished they had some parents around to quiet them down. :P~
I do think there is also a big problem with allergic reactions. I'm allergic to cats. I would be very, incredibly annoyed to be placed on a 15-hour flight to Oz with a feline and end up sneezing my head off. As far as I know, however, humans aren't allergic to other humans (on the whole).
THAT all being said, I completely sympathize with your thoughts that pets should be charged at a variable rate instead of a flat fee -- that makes sense to me.
I was just saying that 10% seems a bit excessive, where 2 to 5% would seem to be more applicable for a child.
By Rebecca McCormick on
Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 8:26 PM
Well, add my name to the Newly Annoyed list.
Earlier this year, I volunteered to give up my seat on an American Airlines flight in exchange for a $250 travel voucher.
Yesterday, I tried to redeem the certificate online toward the purchase of a new ticket. When the system wouldn't accept my voucher, I called AA.
"I'm sorrry," said the representative, "but you have to use these at least 12 days before departure so that you have time to mail the certificate and we have time to receive it, because it's just like cash."
When I protested the 12 day advance is not written ANYWHERE on the voucher, the rep said my only option was to drive to the airport to purchase my ticket, using the voucher.
Today, I drove 55 miles one way to the nearest airport to purchase my ticket using the $250 travel voucher. For all my trouble and inconvenience, they charged me a $15 AIRPORT SERVICE FEE!
Aaaarrrrgggghh!
By Gloria on
Friday, September 28, 2007 at 4:39 AM
Christina-- I didn't say that I thought children were annoying, in fact, I am a former child care worker and I love children more than just about anybody. I like them on my flights, and they actually really love to pet my dog when I have her with me.
However, to charge less for a child who even may take up a whole seat than an 8-lb. dog who will stay beneath a seat and not make a sound the entire trip is also out of line. To charge me less for taking up my seat, eating food, going to the bathroom, etc. than my dog, who sleeps in a little case under my seat and weighs a grand total of 8 lbs (in other words, not taking much more fuel), is completely ridiculous, not to mention a bad business plan. I often drive rather than fly for just that reason, as do many others, I'm sure. Most people own pets.
Nathan-- I'm glad you agree with me on the percentage fee rather than a flat fee. Cats are a different story than dogs; many people are allergic to cats (including myself, actually). Cats can actually be left at home for a long time and don't really care, so they're less likely to be brought along than dogs, who are very attached to their owners and can't really be left alone for more than a few days.
I believe that planes are meant to transport people, other animals and luggage-- and they're quite convenient for doing so. However, a 10% fee seems like quite a small price to pay for bringing a baby on board, considering that they often require a little extra effort on the part of the airline (checking strollers, TSA checking the bottles for liquids, etc.) I agree that if a child is simply sitting on a lap and being quiet, they are similar to my dog in that they are costing the airline little to no money and whatever fee is levied is pure profit to the airline.
In fact, on a Continental flight this year, there was one person left without a seat and a five-year-old child had to sit on his mother's lap all the way back from Puerto Rico. His mother had surely bought him a full-price ticket, as had I for my dog who stayed under my seat the whole time. We both got royally ripped off.
By karen diamond on
Friday, September 28, 2007 at 9:33 PM
I think it would be helpful for all concerned if all parents and small children were seated together in one section of the plane, preferably the front. That way they could all interact. Also, sound doesn't carry as well backwards as forwards. This, of course, would require another line on the online reservation form and there would probably be a fee. Also, the passengers Bill of Rights where the airlines have to pay when they lose luggage, etc. is a great ida.
By seriously? on
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 at 10:34 PM
It is absolutely not "no harm no foul" if a kid is screaming! I understand that parents can't force a kid to stop, but parents need to also understand that we paid as much (or more) for our seats as they did for theirs. They chose to bring the child, they chose to risk misbehavior on a flight. I did not. Why should I suffer because of someone else's choices?
As for pet fees, I understand if it's a greyhound huge dog or even if it's a cat that sheds and could cause allergies for others. However, so many have small dogs that are either super short haired (chihuahuas for example) or are hypoallergenic (malteses for example). with dogs that small that they take up less room than a carry on who cause no noise or issues, why should there be a fee anymore than bringing a big purse on?
By melody on
Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Oh my!!! Everyone here complaining about kids are being very self centered. You were kids once. People, by the way that includes children, have the right to be where they need to be. If you start charging for a crying baby then start charging for a sneezing or coughing adult or someone talking to loud or someone who smells etc... All are annoying but at one point or another we all annoy each other when confined to small spaces. Attitudes towards people need to be more compassionate no matter what the situation. The words compassion, sympathy or empathy come to mind. Let's all stop complaining and help each other get through an uncomfortable situation. That shouldn't be so hard.
By just me on
Monday, October 15, 2007 at 9:06 AM
I liked tat lavatory statement:
just imaging the passenger next to me doing his "little business" into bottle in case he doesn't h {if (typeof(Page_ClientValidate) != 'function' || Page_ClientValidate()) __doPostBack('dnn$ctr601$NewsArticles$ucPostComment$cmdPostComment','')}
Post Commentave coins :)
By Sandra on
Monday, October 15, 2007 at 3:53 PM
I just checked online for tickets to London and the ticket was $352 but with charges surcharges taxes, etc it was $702. The charges were more than my ticket and the breakdown didn't tell me anything. What are these fees and why are they more than my ticket?
By Brian on
Sunday, December 02, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Sorry, still in favor of the lap child fee; especially if they're going to have fees for pets too. I've been on many flights with pets, and never been bothered. Kids are a different story.
Actually; I'd be okay with dropping the lap-kid fee, if the kids (and this also includes minors for whom a seat was actually bought) are held to the same standard as adults are in terms of disrupting the flight. Make too much noise and refuse to stop - you get arrested when the plane lands.
By nathan on
Friday, December 07, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Just booked on American Airlines LA to El Salvador for two adults. To add a lap infant (no seat), they are charging me $37.50 base fare plus $421 in "taxes". Doesn't this sound excessive even if he cries both ways?
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