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Airline frequent flyer fee chart

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Airline frequent flyer fee chart

Posted by George Hobica on Friday, December 18, 2009

It used to be that free frequent flyer tickets were really free. But not anymore. Not only are airlines increasing the number of miles required, but they're constantly adding new fees for issuing tickets, changing them, not using them, requesting them on short notice, and flying confirmed same day stand by.

As usual, the airline with the fewest fees in this regard is Southwest. Continental and Northwest are better than most, and, as the chart below shows, Delta among the worst.

In addition to the fees listed here, you can expect to pay taxes, passenger facility charges, and the September 11 security fee, along with other government imposed surcharges. And if you're flying internationally with a child age 2 or under, even if it's sitting in your lap, you may be hit with a charge of 10% of your fare plus even fuel surcharges, and that's even if you're traveling on a "free" ticket (on a business class ticket to Australia, that might make you think twice about flying "free").

Fees listed were accurate at time of posting but can change at any moment, and probably will. Please comment if you believe that you've found a change or inaccuracy (or just to vent) and we'll check it out.

Keep in mind, too, that depending on your frequent flyer membership level, some of these fees may not apply to you, or they may be lower than shown. Updated Dec. 10 2008.

 Airline Program
 Standard Processing fee Phone or in person fee "Close in" Processing fee Redeposit/
Change fee
Confirmed same day standby Mileage reactivation  
AirTran A+ Rewards (888-898-4782) $0 $15 otherwise $0 $60 N/A N/A  
Alaska Mileage Plan (800-252-7522)  $25 on partner airlines only
 $15 for phone reservations plus mileage required may be 5000 to 10000 higher $0 $0 if cancelled within 3 days of booking;

otherwise $100 fee applies for redeposit or change		 Standby travel is not permitted on one-way award ticket itineraries. Standby travel on earlier flights is permitted on the return portion of a round-trip award ticket $75 for one year  
American AAdvantage
(800-882-8880)		 Up to $150 to upgrade awards on most discounted domestic fares, up to $600 for foreign routes) $20 by phone, $30 in person 20 to 7 days prior: $50; 6 days to 2 hours: $100 Redeposit: $150 for first ticket, $25 each for additional tickets on same account; Change: $150 (MileSAAver tickets only; no fee if only date or time is changed) $35 $50 per 5000 miles plus $30 fee  
Continental OnePass
(800.621.7467)		 Up to $300 RT for non elites to upgrade from coach to domestic first; up to $1000 to upgrade to international businessElite $25 by phone (airport booking not allowed) 20 days or fewer prior: $75 (less for Platinum) $50 $150 ($0 for Platinum) Not allowed on OnePass tickets N/A  
Delta SkyMiles
(800-323-2323)

 

additional $25 for partner airline award

 $25 $20 8-20 days prior: $75; 4-7 days: $100; 3 or fewer days: $150 (waived for Platinum members and some holders of Delta Amex Cards) Changes: $150 if 3 or fewer days before dep; $100 4-7 days; $75 8-20 days; $0 21 days or more prior to dep; Redeposit: $100; most fees waived for Platinum members $50 (waived for Gold/Platinum) N/A  
Frontier Early Returns (866-263-2759) $0 $0 $0 $75 Passenger pays  the difference between their original ticket and the new ticket at its price that day $50 1 - 4,999 miles
$100
 5,000 - 19,999 miles
$200 20,000 - 49,999 miles
$300 50,000 - 99,999 miles
$400 100,000 or more miles		  
JetBlue TrueBlue (800- 538-2583) $0 $20 by phone N/A Change: $100; Redeposit fee: N/A (unused awards are forfeited) $40 N/A  
               
Southwest Rapid Rewards (800-435-9792) N/A (reward sent automatically N/A (reward sent automatically) N/A $0 $0 (if fare has increased, passenger must pay difference) $50 (for awards that have been expired for fewer than 24 months)  
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit N/A (online only) N/A (online only) N/A (requests must be made at least 7 days prior to travel); Mileage discounts for tickets booked 21 or more days in advance of travel Redeposit: $70; Change: $70 if more than 7 days from departure; not permitted within 7 days   N/A  
United MileagePlus (800-421-4655) Effective Jan 12, 2010, up to $50 from most discounted fares to upgrade on domestic routes; up to $500 RT on international routes  $25 by phone, $30 in person $0 $150 (route change or redeposit); $75 change of flight number or travel date only within 7-20 prior to departure; $100 6 days or less prior; free otherwise Domestic: $150; International $150-$250 .125 cents per mile plus $25 fee  
US Airways Dividend Miles (800-428-4322) $25-$50 $30 for domestic fares, $40 for international
 $50 online, $75 otherwise $150 domestic, $250 international $25 $50-$400  
Virgin America elevate (877.359.8474) $0  $25  $75 Redeposit: not allowed  $75  N/A  
Categories: Airline Industry News

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I have been trying for 9+ years to have US Air honor it's Air Miles, which earned and not given to me. I accumulated 181,000 Air Miles and US Air along with City Cards refuse to permit me to use them. My wife and I had two seperate cards in each of our names. Hers was a Visa, while mine was a Master Card. Because her card had free air miles with US Air, we used it for all of our purchases, which turned out to be a big mistake. She died 11 years ago and although I was her only Beneficiary, I was awarded her entire Estate. When I attempted to have the Air Miles on her US Air/Visa transfered to me, I was told it couldn't be done. Latter I found out this was not the case, but still didnot have the use of the Air Miles. At this point I have no longer used any credit card, which offers any incentives. I have learned this is many times an advertising ploy and scam. Beijing Tour (http://www.chinawonderfultour.com/)
by jimmy on Friday, February 26, 2010
We have used a cash back Visa card for several years with good results. We do not fly so miles are out anyway. Our cash use is restricted since it is through State Farm Insurance Company, but that is OK because our insurance, six policies, are through SF and the cash cak, as much as 1.5% on all purchases, is applicable tpo that billing. Very nice, I think.
by illogical74 on Saturday, January 30, 2010
I have been trying for 9+ years to have US Air honor it's Air Miles, which earned and not given to me. I accumulated 181,000 Air Miles and US Air along with City Cards refuse to permit me to use them. My wife and I had two seperate cards in each of our names. Hers was a Visa, while mine was a Master Card. Because her card had free air miles with US Air, we used it for all of our purchases, which turned out to be a big mistake. She died 11 years ago and although I was her only Beneficiary, I was awarded her entire Estate. When I attempted to have the Air Miles on her US Air/Visa transfered to me, I was told it couldn't be done. Latter I found out this was not the case, but still didnot have the use of the Air Miles. At this point I have no longer used any credit card, which offers any incentives. I have learned this is many times an advertising ploy and scam.
by jmmy123 on Sunday, December 27, 2009
The problem is that frequent flyer miles have become an alternate currency, but the airlines control all aspects of the valuation. www.awardtravelguide.com
by Award Travel Guide on Sunday, December 20, 2009
Airlines are generating a huge amount of animosity with the traveling public. They have the only game in town right now but so did the American auto industry in the 50's, 60's and 70's when they chose to ignore their customers with bad product/bad service. It took awhile but they suffered the consequences; lost market share/ bankruptcy etc.If I do international travel it will not be on a US airline.
by Bobo on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Airlines are generating a huge amount of animosity with the traveling public. They have the only game in town right now but so did the American auto industry in the 50's, 60's and 70's when they chose to ignore their customers with bad product/bad service. It took awhile but they suffered the consequences; lost market share/ bankruptcy etc.If I do international travel it will not be on a US airline.
by Bobo on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Airlines are generating a huge amount of animosity with the traveling public. They have the only game in town right now but so did the American auto industry in the 50's, 60's and 70's when they chose to ignore their customers with bad product/bad service. It took awhile but they suffered the consequences; lost market share/ bankruptcy etc.If I do international travel it will not be on a US airline.
by Bobo on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Just a friendly reminder to keep the posts coming for all your airline and travel thoughts!! The political, medical and cognitive posts could be appreciated better on other blogs that carry those themes. Thanks!
by on Saturday, June 27, 2009
On the subject of FF programs and fees, wonder why NWA/Delta forced its FF members to switch to an American Express card? AmEx has higher membership fees, likely charges most merchants a higher discount fee (which is why many merchants refuse AmEx--thus the card is not as widely accepted as VISA or MC--my car repair shop refused my AmEx last week), and in the fine print in the new Delta Gold AmEx card's terms and conditions it essentially says for foreign transactions AmEx will charge its cardholders the HIGHEST exchange rate it can find (versus a low interbank exchange rate it has access to) and THEN tack on an ADDITIONAL 2.7% surcharge. What was the airline thinking in switching to AmEx? Surely more profits for Delta and AmEx but at the same time putting a stick in the eye of its frequent flyers. Wonder why NWA/Delta didn't negotiate a better deal for its frequent flyers from AmEx and/or use a more widely accepted card? What were they thinking?
by FinePrintReader on Monday, June 08, 2009
Sadly, they all do it! All airlines charge you a penny or thereabouts to "gift" your miles to someone else. (not to mention a "handling" fee, normally about $30) But this could make you feel a little better. Say your relative has an extra 5000 miles in his/her account they can't use and that's exactly the amount of miles you need to claim an award. On AA, for example, it costs about $80 to purchase the miles. A typical flight from east coast to west coast earning you about 5000 miles on a non-stop usually costs about $400..or if you frequent this site under $200......think of it as paying a mere $80 for a round trip from JFK to LAX then it's not so bad.
by on Saturday, April 25, 2009
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