Entries for the 'Airfare Tips' Category
Posted by
George on Saturday, July 04, 2009
Spirit is at it again with a $50 off coupon code. Enter 50OFF in the promo code box on Spirit's site by midnight ET July 5 and you'll get your fare for $50 less than you will find on any other site, such as Kayak or Travelocity. Flights to/from Detroit get $40 off. We have found in the past that when combined with one of Spirit's wacky $7, $9, 1 cent, or whatever fares that on some routes the promo code discount actually wipes out the entire fare, so that your fare ends up being zero plus tax. We've even seen cases where the taxes are even wiped out!
Posted by
George on Wednesday, July 01, 2009
By Andrea Bennett and George Hobica
As if losing a loved one isn't bad enough, if that person dies and you're his or her spouse, some airlines make you pay a fee to inherit frequent flyer miles.
As with any other asset you’ve accumulated in life, you can’t bring frequent flier miles with you when you take that final flight to the great beyond. But your loved ones can profit from them after you’re gone. Airfarewatchdog began pondering this issue when asked by a reader if there are uniform policies covering the transfer of these assets. Our reader, who recently lost her husband, wrote that, “I have just been pretending that he was still alive because I was afraid that I would either lose his miles or pay a big transfer fee."
The answer, Airfarewatchdog found, is that each airline issues a slightly different printed policy in the program rules sections of their Web sites, and that these rules often conflict with what you’ll hear if you call the airlines’ frequent flyer desks.
Frequent flyer miles are a liability for the airlines. With unredeemed miles in the trillions, they don’t make it easy to collect what may reasonably be considered your inheritance, and two major airlines collect a fee to process the transfer. (In fact, by some estimates, 25 to 30 percent of accumulated miles end up expiring when the “owner” dies, letting airlines off the hook for the cost of redeeming them.)
Most airlines do make it easy, however, to transfer miles between the living, again for a fee; but it’s an expensive proposition, even when there are occasional transfer bonuses, sometimes as high as 100 percent. Plus, there are mileage transfer limits with these offers. United, for instance, allows any member to transfer between 5,000 and 15,000 miles per recipient per year for $0.015 per mile and a $35 fee. Only 60,000 miles can be transferred per year.
Yet, many airlines protect themselves by issuing blanket statements in their rules that miles are not transferable, period.
United clearly states that, “Accrued mileage and certificates do not constitute property of the member. Neither accrued mileage nor certificates are transferable (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise by operation of law.”
But the airlines also employ plenty of sympathetic humans, who might have discretion in interpreting the rules when you pick up the phone; not surprising since their published policies at times seem a contradictory jumble of legalese.
Take American for instance: their rules plainly state that miles “are not transferable upon death”. Well that sounds pretty conclusive, right? Except then we read a few lines later that, “However, American Airlines, in its sole discretion, may credit accrued mileage to persons specifically identified in court approved divorce decrees and wills upon receipt of documentation satisfactory to American Airlines and upon payment of any applicable fees.” So does that mean they fork over the miles or not? Turns out that if the AAdvantage account has fewer than 10,000 miles, there’s no fee required (only proof of death is needed); if more than 10,000 miles, you’ll pay a transfer fee of $50.
And in the case of Continental OnePass, there’s a separate set of rules printed online (which says you absolutely may not transfer miles to anyone, ever); but when you call the service center you might be told, as we were, that you can transfer miles to anyone for a fee and that transferring miles from a deceased’s account to an inheritor’s requires no fee (keep in mind that the airlines’ frequent flyer rules can change at any moment, and that what you read here was accurate at the time of publication).
Bottom line: every airline has slightly different printed policies, and what you hear from a call center representative may be different from what’s printed (see chart, below). But you’ll likely be able to claim a deceased’s miles if you’re persistent, present documentation, and, in some cases, pay a small fee (only American and United, of the major airlines that allow you to accrue miles without automatically issuing an award, charge a fee).
But why pay a fee and deal with the airlines at all?
Why not game the system by pretending the deceased is still alive, as our reader has done, and using his or her account user name and PIN (assuming you know it) to log in and obtain free tickets? Well, for one thing, this is against the rules, and if you’re caught your miles will be forfeited.
We’re not suggesting you do this. We’re just saying you could.
But for those of you collecting miles in the future, if you’d like to avoid having to beg or pay for miles once a family member dies, there are two earning programs you should consider. One is the British Airways Executive Club, which allows you to set up a household account with up to four people living at the same address. Miles earned by one member are combined with those earned by the other three, and can be redeemed by any one of the four. BA lets you spend miles on American and other airlines.
The other option is the American Express Membership Rewards program. Here you can earn miles on about 20 US and foreign airlines. The points never expire as long as you keep them in your Amex account, and you transfer them to the airline frequent flyer program of your choice, where they become miles, as needed. If you and your spouse have a points-earning card for the same account, either Card Member has control of the points and can use them at will as long as the "primary" member authorizes another card member to use them. All it takes is a simple phone call; no fees, no paperwork.
Inheriting miles: Airline rules and procedures
| Airline |
What the Web site says about transferring miles in general
|
Cost to transfer miles among the living
|
What the service center told us about inheriting miles (deceased to inheritor)
|
Documentation needed to process deceased's account
|
| American |
“Except as otherwise explained below, mileage credit is not transferable and may not be combined among AAdvantage members, their estates, successors and assigns. Accrued mileage credit and award certificates and award tickets do not constitute property of the member. Neither accrued mileage, award certificates or tickets are transferable by the member (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise by operation of law. However, American Airlines, in its sole discretion, may credit accrued mileage to persons specifically identified in court approved divorce decrees and wills upon receipt of documentation satisfactory to American Airlines and upon payment of any applicable fees." |
Transfer 1,000 to 5,000 miles for $50, up to 10,000 miles for $100, and up to 15,000 miles for $150. You’ll also pay a $30 per transaction processing fee, and transfer a max of 60,000 miles per calendar year. |
You actually can share miles, but it’s not called “transferring.” You can purchase miles to gift to another AAdvantage member, for the price at left. In the case of a death, the price is lower (see documentation at right). |
American requires a copy of the pages of the will which identify the decedent's name, the executor's or personal representative's name, and a page showing the date of execution and signature of the maker. If the AAdvantage account is specifically mentioned, a copy of that page must be included as well. If the AAdvantage account has fewer than 10,000 miles, only proof of death is required; if more than 10,000 miles, you’ll pay a transfer fee of $50. |
| Continental |
“You can have only one OnePass account, which is established under your full first and last name (no initials, please). Only you may accrue mileage in your account. You may not transfer or combine mileage between your account and other OnePass accounts, including those of relatives.”
|
Regular cost of a transfer: $15 for every 1,000 miles.
|
You actually can transfer miles to another member with a OnePass account. The cost is $15 for every 1,000 miles, with a minimum of 2500 miles, and a maximum of 100,000 miles. But in the case of a death, the transfer is free, with no minimum or maximum. |
A copy of the death certificate and a letter from the executor authorizing the transfer of miles to the inheriting member. |
| Delta |
“You can transfer 1,000 to 30,000 miles in increments of 1,000 miles. A maximum of 300,000 miles can be transferred into any individual SkyMiles account per calendar year. Up to 150,000 miles can be deducted from your account per calendar year. Transfer Miles transactions are nonrefundable and may take up to seven days to post to the recipient's account. “ |
$0.01 per mile, plus a $30 processing fee.
|
You can transfer the miles at no cost if you get the executor of the estate to fill out an affidavit and mail or fax it to the Delta service center. :
|
The affidavit (at left). If there’s more than one heir, a letter from all the heirs is needed to assign the account to any one of them.
|
| United |
“Accrued mileage and certificates do not constitute property of the member. Neither accrued mileage nor certificates are transferable (i) upon death, (ii) as part of a domestic relations matter, or (iii) otherwise by operation of law." |
15 cents per mile plus a $35.00 transaction fee. Transfer up to 60,000 miles. |
You actually can transfer miles between the account of the deceased and a beneficiary. United charges a $75 flat fee, regardless of the number of miles. You’ll need to call the service center, which will then send you a form to fill out, and ask that you provide documentation to start the process. There’s no maximum number of miles you can transfer. |
The form that the service center will send you, along with a death certificate and proof of beneficiary. |
| US Airways |
“All outstanding mileage may be transferred to the estate of a member upon a member’s death, after production of appropriate documentation such as a death certificate and proof of beneficiary within 6 months of the member's passing. Miles cannot be transferred if the deceased member's account has been inactive for more than 36 months at the time of the member's passing. Mileage may not be transferred to any other person except pursuant to these rules. “ |
1 cent per mile plus a $30 processing fee. 50,000 miles maximum per transaction |
As long as you send a copy of the death certificate and will – or another document proving you’re the beneficiary – within six months of the death, there’s no maximum number of miles and no fee for transferring them. If you haven’t sent the information within six months, the airline will work on a case-by-case basis. |
Death certificate and proof of beneficiary |
Posted by
George on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's airfare Magic 8 Ball season again, with airfare pundits predicting where fares are heading next. We've been in the airfare reporting business for over 10 years now, and one thing we've learned is that you cannot outguess the airlines, or the economy, or oil prices. That's why we don't make airfare predictions. We just think it's misleading. Sure, we'd get on the Tee-Vee and our name in the papers more often if we went out on a limb, but too often we've seen people on those limbs fall on their faces when they get sawed off.
Sure, we can tell you that as of today, pubished fares for summer travel to Europe , for example, are higher than they were back in the spring (we cannot tell you, however, how many seats were sold at what fares on what routes on what airlines, however). But if we could really predict airfares, we'd have stopped flying commerical long ago. No sirree, we'd be in our comfy Gulfstream sipping vintage Veuve Cliquot instead of at the back of the plane nursing a warm beer.
The problem with predictions is that it can mislead consumers, and cause them to buy fares sooner than they should. It's just like predicting the stock market, and good luck with that.
And when you come to think of it, if there were one Web site that could accurately and consistently predict airfares, then wouldn't every other airfare site be history by now? Instead, there seems to be a new one popping up every month.
Posted by
George on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
United is currently advertising a 2 for 1 sale to various Canadian destinations from US cities. Fares start at $208 RT ($104 one-way) plus tax from Chicago to Toronto. Denver to Winnipeg is $380 ($190 one-way) plus tax. Not especially great deals if you are traveling by yourself, but a decent deal if traveling with a companion.
And interestingly, in order to get the discount you must call United reservations at 1-800-864-8331 and mention the “Canada Offer”. Phone reservation fees will be waived. Fares must be purchased by July 5. A 2 night minimum stay is required. Travel valid between now and September 30th. This is yet another example of how airlines are forcing you to deal directly with them and not through third party web sites in order to get the best fares.
Posted by
George on Monday, June 22, 2009
JetBlue, like many airlines, are often sell fares for less on its own site than they do through metasearch engines such as Kayak or online booking sites such as Orbitz. Plus, as do many airlines, JetBlue often throws in added incentives to book on their site. The latest? A $20 credit to your PayPal account, but only if you book on their site.
Example: Ft. Lauderdale to Cancun is on sale for $58 RT plus a boat load of taxes (final price $134 RT) in a current JetBlue sale. But you'd pay $20 more if you booked on Orbitz, and you wouldn't get the $20 credit.
Same flights, same dates found on Kayak (and sending you to Orbitz) $154 RT with tax:
Or you could pay $134 RT if booked directly on JetBlue.com, plus get $20 paid into your PayPal account to spend any way you wish.
Posted by
Tim on Monday, June 15, 2009
Here we go again. Another round of coupon offers from Spirit Airlines. They had this promotion last week and they have brought it back again. Hurry as these two offers are only good on tickets bought tonight before 11:59PM, Monday, June 15th.
Save $24: Use Promotion Code "24HOURS" (all caps, no spaces) when booking your flight at Spirit's homepage. Travel is valid from July 8 to August 31, 2009.
Save $35: Use Promotion Code "35HOURS" (all caps, no spaces) when booking your flight at Spirit's homepage. Travel is valid from September 1 to November 17, 2009.
Once you have entered the promotional code, the displayed fares will already include the promotional discount of $12 or $17.50 each way for a total savings of $24 or $35.
Posted by
Tim on Monday, June 15, 2009
Finally some of our prayers concerning airlines are being answered. We were alerted today by our good friend, Ben Mutzabaugh at USA Today, that US Airways has launched a new updated version of their website. After two years in the making, passengers should have a more enjoyable time at their less cluttered website.
When you first go to the new website, click on the button labeled Check out usairways.com Beta to see the website layout. Dive right into the new website and start looking for your next flight on US Airways.
Low Fare Finder. Ah, the most important part for you Airfarewatchdog fans. US Airways still has this option, but it is not immediately visible on the new main homepage like it was on the old website. The Low Fare Finder is under the drop-down box labeled Search By. Once you have started a flight search with the Low Fare Finder, you can view fares on a Daily or Weekly (new!) manner. We love seeing a full week's worth of fares!
The airline has also launched their new Award Travel Calendar. Its easy to see what dates are available and how many miles are required for each segment of your trip.
Once you've had a chance to visit their new website, let us know what you think about the redesign and whether you like the changes they've made.
Posted by
George on Saturday, June 06, 2009
Besides really cheap airfares to Las Vegas, of course, here are 10 more reasons to go. Because sometimes cheap fares just aren't enough to get you off your you know what.
1. BECAUSE NICE THINGS ARE AFFORDABLE HERE Did the bank yoink your platinum card when you weren’t looking? Whatever, because you no longer need to go into debt to do Vegas right. Check this: Published weekday rates of $159 at Wynn Las Vegas, $139 at Bellagio. Did we mention weekend rates of $169 (2 night minimum) at the Four Seasons Hotel? We have now.
2. A MASSAGE WOULD DO WONDERS The home of the groaning buffet is also a major spa capital. (Study in contrasts alert!) Sophisticated facilities such as the Qua Baths at Caesars and the Bathhouse at Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel are a must. Many resorts are discounting spa experiences right now – over at the Mirage, they are discounting treatment by nearly 40 percent – try the “Vegas Quickie” package, a 25 minute massage and a facial, for $99.
3. YOU GOTTA EAT! Why pay retail? Restaurants all over town are offering big incentives to get you in the door. At Palms Place, you get a $50 credit at Simon Restaurant & Lounge – plus two free cocktails and more goodies – when you book the Simon Dining and Room package from just $159. Prix-fixe menus are big as well right now; the Taste of Wynn program offers appealing set menus at both Wynn and the new Encore resort.
4. BECAUSE IT’S CHEAPER THAN PAYING RENT Say you hail from New York. Or Boston. Washington, maybe? San Francisco? Say you want to cut back on your living expenses. Did you know that it may be cheaper to move into a Las Vegas hotel than continue paying rent? Based on published rates that start at $24.95 at the Tropicana, you’re looking at a bill for, say, the month of June, of about $1,350 before taxes. Just think, though – that includes utilities. You can do cheaper, say at the Gold Spike, downtown. That might be a little scary, though. (“Disgusting in every way,” huffed one TripAdvisor user.)
5. SEE ONE OF THE BEST DAMN CHINATOWNS AROUND It seems weird calling Spring Mountain Road – just off the Strip – “Chinatown,” seeing as its really “Asiatown.” Name a country or a type of cooking and you should be able to find it. Strong suits are regional Chinese, Japanese (Raku at 5030 Spring Mountain is a must), Korean and Vietnamese, but don’t stop there -- Las Vegas is jam-packed with Thai restaurants, many of them better than you might be used to back home, unless home is, say, Thailand. Make your first stop Lotus of Siam, for their tasty Northern specialties menu. Warning: Do not be tempted by the bad lunch buffet (953 E. Sahara Ave.)
6. SEE THE NEW NORMAL You remember how that last trip to, say, Puerto Vallarta, you noticed all these weathered concrete stubs, complete with with rebar sticking out – construction projects at a dead halt, due to lack of funding? My, you said to yourself – that’s so strange that they just leave it sitting there. Well ha ha ha, that’s Las Vegas these days, both on and off the strip. Check out Echelon at Las Vegas Blvd. and Desert Inn Road, where work stopped months ago on a project that was to include four hotels, including a Delano and a Mondrian, iconic brands dreamt up by Ian Schrager a couple of decades ago. Oh, and what’s that construction project towering over the Doge’s Palace at The Venetian? Nothing to see here – just a half-finished St. Regis Hotel. Whoops, maybe later!
7. THE 99 CENT MARGARITAS The Vegas so many of us grew up loving is back in full force, with the craziest drink deals and some pretty terrific happy hours. Of course, at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, right at the corner of Flamingo & Las Vegas Boulevard, happy hour runs all day, and the margaritas really are just 99 cents. Need something slightly more high brow? Hit Las Horas Loca at Agave, a classy Mexican restaurant out by the Red Rock Resort. Every day, from 4:05pm to 6:27pm (for real), they’ve got 25 cent tacos and $1 Coronitas (10820 W. Charleston Ave.).
8. IT’S STILL A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD Home values may be plummeting faster than our 401K’s, but Vegas can still boast a fantastic location. Minutes from town, you can be hiking in Red Rock Canyon, which certainly hasn’t cut back on its beauty in these tough times, while just north of the city, there’s cool, green Mount Charleston, towering 12,000 feet above the valley floor. Don’t forget Death Valley. Or the Grand Canyon.
9. HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM YET? No? You’re a disgrace. We’re talking about the museum “founded to promote its legacy and assure public access by future generations to resources which define the United States' nuclear testing program,” here. Hello! (755 E. Flamingo Rd.)
10. THE SHOWS MUST GO ON The best ones are still going to cost you -- the acclaimed Cirque du Soleil show, LOVE (it’s the Beatles one) just now started offering locals discounts, while for the rest of us, tickets are still running $99 and up. Discounts to “O” at Bellagio? Don’t even ask. (Yet.) Still, how about 35 percent off Criss Angel’s Believe (also a Cirque production) at Luxor? Not shabby. Get the discount (based on availability) at his website – www.crissangel.com. Also check out one of the Tix4Tonight booths, scattered around town. So maybe Nathan Burton at the Flamingo isn’t your first pick, but for 50 percent off the $34 ticket price, you can’t fail.
-- David Landsel
Posted by
George on Friday, June 05, 2009
Here we list some of the various fees that airlines use to line their coffers while they continue to keep many airfares ridiculously low. These fees are subject to change and you should always contact the airline directly before planning a trip to be absolutely certain what they'll be charging you. We do our best to keep these charts up to date; please leave us a comment below if you believe something isn't quite right! And thanks.
Frequent Flyer Fees
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. Southwest issues frequent flyer awards as soon as you earn them and you have up to a year to use the award. If an award has expired, you can pay $50 to extend its validity up to one additional year as long as the award isn't more than one year past its original validity.
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 June 4, 2009.
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 |
$10 otherwise |
$0 |
$60 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| Alaska Mileage Plan (800-252-7522) |
$25 on partner airlines |
$15 for reservations over the phone (mileage
award levels are the same over the phone and on the internet) |
$0 |
$0 if canceled or changed within 24 hours
from booking.
Otherwise $100 each time a change is made on Super Saver and
Choice awards.
Change fee does not apply to Full Flex award in Coach and First
class.
|
Standby is allowed on the same day of travel at the airport ticket counter
only on both the outbound and return portion of a ticket.
Standby is also permitted on one way awards.
|
$75 for one year |
|
American AAdvantage
(800-882-8880) |
$5, or 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) |
$0 (up to $300 RT for non elites to upgrade 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) |
$0
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) |
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) |
$25 $0 |
$25 |
14 days or fewer: $75 $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 (N/A award sent automatically when earned) |
$10 by phone |
N/A |
Change: $100; Redeposit fee: N/A (unused awards are forfeited) |
$40 |
N/A |
|
Northwest WorldPerks
(800-447-3757) |
$0 |
$20 by phone; $40 $45 in person
Waived for Platinum and Gold Elite members.
|
See Delta |
Redeposit: $50 $100; Change: $50 $100(includes travel date, time, origin, destination, and other changes)
The award ticket reissue and redeposit fee for Platinum Elite members will be waived for any two reservations per year. Platinum Elite members will be charged $50 for any additional award ticket changes.
|
$50 |
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) |
$0 (eff. July 1, 2009, 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 |
Under 6 days: $100; 7-20 days: $75 |
$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 domestic, $35 Mexico/Caribbean, $40 international |
$25 by phone, $30 in person ($40 for international tickets excl. Canada) |
$50 online, $75 otherwise |
$150 domestic, $250 international |
$25 |
$50-$400 |
|
| Virgin America elevate (877.359.8474) |
$0 |
|
|
Redeposit: not allowed |
$75 |
N/A |
|
Checked Bag Fees
Here we list, airline by airline, fees for checked bags on major US airlines. These fees are for domestic economy class travel (which in some cases includes Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Canada) only and may be higher on international flights.
There are all kinds of exceptions to these fees, especially for certain classes of frequent flyers and military personnel. These fees are cumulative and are double for round-trip travel. They are subject to change and were accurate to the best of our knowledge as of April 23, 2009.
If you're a heavy packer, you'll want to fly with Airtran, Alaska, Frontier and Southwest, even if there's a cheaper fare on another ailrine.
See also: shipping services (FedEx, UPS, etc) vs. the airlines.
|
Airline
|
First checked bag
|
Second checked bag
|
Additional bags
|
Overweight bags
|
Oversized bags |
| Airtran |
$0 $15 |
$10 paid online, $20 at airport $25
|
$50 |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $29 $39
71 to 99 lbs: $69 $79
|
62-70 total linear inches: $29 $39; 71-80 inches $69 $79 |
| Alaska |
$0 ($15 if ticketed on or after May 1 for travel on or after July 7) |
$0 $25
|
3rd-6th bags: $100; 7th or more: $150 |
51-100 lbs: $50 |
63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75 |
| American |
$15 |
$25 |
Bags 3-5: $100; 6th or more: $200 |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50; 71-100 lbs: $100. These fees may be higher on international routes |
63 inches and over: $150 |
| Continental |
$15 |
$25 |
$75 nonstop/$100 connecting |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50
Over 70 lbs not accepted. |
63 inches and over: $100 |
| Delta |
$15 |
$25 ($50 starting July 1)
|
Third bag: $125; Bags 4 to 10 $200 each (For travel outside US, no fee for 2nd bag, $200 for 3rd bag, $350 for 4th and 5th, $600 for bags 6-10). |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90 ($150 for travel outside US)
71 to 100 lbs: $175 ($300 each outside US) |
63-80 total linear inches: $150 $175
|
| Frontier |
$0 $15 |
$25 |
$50 |
51-100 lbs: $75 |
63-80 inches: $75 |
| JetBlue |
$0 |
$20 |
$75 |
51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100 |
63-80 inches: $75 |
| Northwest |
See Delta |
See Delta |
See Delta |
See Delta |
See Delta |
| Spirit |
$19 online/$25 at airport |
$25 (online or at airport) |
Bags 3-5: $100 (online or at airport) |
51-70 lbs: $50
71 to 99 lbs: $100
|
62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150 |
| Southwest |
$0 |
$0 |
First additional bag: $25; bags 4-9: $50; 10 and more: $110 |
51-70 lbs: $25 $50; 71-100 lbs: $50 |
62-80 inches: $50 |
| United |
$15 |
$25 |
Bags 1-4: $125; 5th or more: $250 |
$100 |
63-115 inches: $125 |
| US Airways |
$15 online, $5 more at check in |
$25, $5 more at check in |
Bags 3-9: $100 |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50
71 to 99 lbs: $100
|
62-80 total linear inches: $100 |
Other Airline Fees
Here we list, for most airlines, fees for ticket changes (non refundable fares); booking fares in person or by phone, kids flying solo, bringing a pet into the cabin, and booking fares other than online. As you can see, Southwest has the lowest and fewest fees, followed by other low cost carriers such as Airtran and Spirit. Note that most of these fees, unless otherwise noted, are for domestic flights; fees for international services may be higher. Last revision: Mar 2 2009.
See also: New airline frequent flyer program fees
|
Airline
|
Ticket change fee domestic/international |
Booking fares on phone/in person |
Unaccompanied minors (double for round-trip) |
Pet in cabin (double for round-trip) |
Advance or premium economy domestic seat selection (double for round-trip) |
| Airtran |
$75 (free if within 4 hours of booking) |
$15 |
$39 for nonstops; $59 for connections |
$69 |
$6 (advance seat assignment); $20 (exit row) |
| Alaska |
$75 on line/ $100 otherwise |
$15/$15 |
$75 |
$100 |
not applicable |
| American |
$150/$150-300 |
$20/$20 |
$100 |
$100 |
not applicable |
| Continental |
$150/$150-$300 |
$20/$20 |
$75 nonstop/$100 connecting |
$95 $125
|
not applicable |
| Delta |
$150/$200+ |
$25/$25 |
$100 |
$100 $150 |
$5-$25 |
| Frontier |
$100 $150 |
$25 |
$40 $50 per segment |
Not allowed |
not applicable |
| JetBlue |
$100 |
$15 |
$75 |
$100 |
$10-$20 (first 4 and exit rows) |
| Northwest |
$150/$250+ |
$25 |
$100
|
$80 $150 |
$5-$30 per flight (exit row and bulkhead) |
| Spirit |
$100 80 online ($110 $90 otherwise) |
Lowest fares available online only |
$75 $100 |
$85 $100 |
not applicable |
| Southwest |
$0 (you get a credit good for a year) |
Lowest fares available online only |
$25 |
$75 |
not applicable |
| United |
$150/$200+ |
$25/$30 |
$99 $150 $99 |
$100 $175 |
varies |
| US Airways |
$150/$150-$250 |
$15/$20 |
$100 |
$100 |
$5-$30 per flight (aisle and window at front of economy cabin), although some passengers will be assigned these seats without paying by “luck of the draw” |
Posted by
Tim on Wednesday, June 03, 2009
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Know how to book those great deals from Airfarewatchdog? Well . . . . ??
As you know, we have three great email alerts to help you find the lowest airfares. Our City to City Alerts, Departure City Alerts, and Arrival City Alerts have helped thousands of people find airfares to/from their favorite airports. (If you haven't signed up for our email alerts, go to our homepage and type your email address in the box called Sign Up for Free Fare Alerts.)
Want to book that incredible airfare deal you received from Airfarewatchdog?
Here’s how.
- Open your email alert from Airfarewatchdog.
For a City to City Alert: In the middle of the email, find the sentence "Learn more about this fare and purchase it at Fare Details". Click on the words Fare Details to learn more about this city to city airfare.
For a Departure City Alert or an Arrival City Alert: Scroll down the list of cities and find the airfare you would like to review. Click on the name of the city to see additional details concerning the fare.
Departure City Alert:
Arrival City Alert:
- The airfare details for the selected route will now appear on your screen. The fare may include information such as the name of the Airline(s) offering the fare, End Travel date, number of days for Advance Purchase, date to Purchase by, Available for Travel on days, and/or Comments.
- If you would like to book this fare, go to the section called How to Book this Fare located in the middle of screen. You will now see two ways to find seats at the fare we've shown you:
If your travel dates are flexible (and even when they're not flexible): Quick links to travel websites will be posted. You'll be able to search for available dates on these sites that show clickable calendars of fares or multiple dates on one page: Much easier and faster than entering one date at a time!
Note: One of the reasons why we recommend this option first is that in the course of the day, another airline may match the price or even post a lower one. Or the original airline listed may sell-out or decide to raise their price. Looking here first, keeps you on top of things. If you prefer, or if you travel dates are not flexible: Quick links to travel websites and/or the airline(s) providing the airfare offer will be posted. Remember, not every date is always available for every fare. Flexible date searches (see above) always increase your chances of nabbing the low prices you see.
Please note that Airfarewatchdog.com is not a travel agency and we do not sell fares. We only list low fares we have found.
4. Once you have selected a link, you will be sent directly to the airline or online travel agency where you can start selecting your flight.
5. Continue the booking process at the company's website until your airfare is booked and confirmed. Print your confirmation page when you're done! Sometimes confirmation emails get stuck in a SPAM filter or bounced by your internet service provider, so print. Better safe, than sorry.