Multiple airline fees add to travel costs |
|
|
|
A 'better' seat
The new twist with some airlines: If you have
a preferred seat on the plane, you pay extra for it. For a fee, you can select an aisle, window or some other location (for
instance, adjacent to the bulkhead or next to an emergency door). Not every airline charges this fee, but it's worth asking
if your preferences have a price tag attached. The going rate: $5 to $15, one way, says Seaney.
Avoid by: Take a gamble and select your seat the day before the flight, says Seaney. How this works: When you
download your boarding pass 24 hours before the flight, you choose your seat from the available spots that are left, and there's
no charge, he says. But plan to make your choice exactly 24 hours before you fly, he advises. Airlines won't allow you to select
your seat (post ticket purchase) any earlier, and the sooner you do it, the more choices you'll have.
Frequent-flier mile redemption charges
Want to turn those frequent-flier miles into a real ticket to ride? It's probably going to cost you more miles than it would have a year ago, says Alexander
Anolik, an attorney and co-author of "Traveler's Rights: Your Legal Guide to Fair Treatment and Full Value." Many airlines have
raised the number of miles you have to spend to claim a free ticket. If you're traveling in the near future, there may be a separate
fee to expedite the order.
In addition to spending your miles for the ticket, you may have to cough up extra cash to cover the fuel surcharge
before you're done, Seaney says.
In addition, with a shrinking number of seats and flights, some airlines have made it all but impossible to use
miles to visit some popular vacation destinations like Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas, he says.
Avoid by: It's often easier to redeem frequent-flier miles for more ordinary domestic destinations, says Seaney. And
"you can always find a seat during the week," he says. So pay for the long, exotic jaunts out of your own pocket and use your miles
for more vanilla trips.
Also analyze why you're playing the frequent-flier game in the first place. If you want free trips, and you're not
getting them, maybe you should take your membership to another airline or pick another credit card perk that will give you more of a payback.
If you use membership to gain better treatment when you do travel, and getting free or discounted tickets is simply a side benefit,
just realize that the cost of cashing in those points is likely going to be higher now.
Checked bags
This is the fee that's been making headlines. Airlines used
to let you check up to two bags for free. Now, some airlines are charging for that second checked bag, while some are even charging for
the first one. What you'll pay: Fees are generally running $15 to $50.
Avoid by: Taking one bag and packing light. Just because you can cram everything into one regulation-size bag doesn't
mean you've beaten the fee system. If your suitcase comes in over the weight restrictions, you'll face an additional fee.
Forget mailing bags ahead of time. "It's going to cost you more to ship your luggage," than it would cost you to check
the bag, says Lytle.
Also, board as early as you can. Because everyone is switching to carry-ons, those overhead bins are filling up fast. Keep
an eye on your luggage, even after you stow it. With a shortage of available space, incoming passengers have been known to "rearrange"
the existing luggage to make room for their own.
Change fees
Need to change your schedule? Expect to pay an extra $150 for
domestic flights, up about 50 percent from last year, says Seaney.
"To me, that's the one I dislike most," he says. "They are already charging you the difference in price for the new ticket,"
he says. Because it's usually booked at the last minute, it's already going to be a higher rate.
Avoid by: Other than trying to sweet talk a ticket agent, there's really no way around this one.
|
