Don't Get Blind-Sided by Hidden Travel Fees Part I

From an article on CNN

Whether it's a $20 daily charge for a resort gym you didn't use, or the new $200 penalty for altering your flight reservation, travel fees have an irritating way of surprising us on vacation.

It should be easier than ever to shop based on price given the explosion of online booking sites, at least in theory. That cheap rate on the screen rarely includes all fees. Without the help of a knowledgeable travel agent  that compares fees for a given airline route, it's challenging to calculate your total cost.

Hotels, cruises and especially airlines like this model because fees have allowed them to stay profitable while slashing their base prices to appear competitive. But it leaves travelers frustrated by charges for things like an in-flight soda that, until recently, we expected to be free.

The upside to consider is that you can still avoid some of the worst penalties if you plan strategically. A recent article from CNN gave these tips for avoiding those upsetting hidden fees. 

Baggage Fees
Major carriers charge $25 to check one bag on domestic flights -- and raked in $3.5 billion in baggage fees in 2012, up nearly 4% from the previous year, according to the Department of Transportation. Many travelers have responded by packing just light enough to squeeze their bags into an overhead bin. But even that option may be waning. Low-cost carriers Spirit and Allegiant both charge for carry-on luggage and Frontier Airlines announced it will charge $25-$100 for the use of the overhead bin to passengers who book economy fares through online agencies or travel agents.

Tip: Bags still fly free on Southwest, and JetBlue passengers may check their first bag at no expense. The Citi AAdvantage MasterCard and Visa offer a first bag checked free for the cardholder and four companions; the Delta SkyMiles card from American Express grants a one bag checked free for up to nine people on the same reservation.

Ticket Change Fee
Change fee revenue totaled $2.6 billion last year, up more than 7%. Major legacy carriers including American recently hiked their change fees from $150 to $200 and that's just for domestic flights. Rearranging an international itinerary can incur a $300 charge on US Airways, an eye-popping amount that has caught the attention of Senator Charles Schumer, who is calling on airlines to reverse the hike.

Tip: If your plans look tentative, shop around for all fare classes; some more expensive base fares will have more flexibility should you need to make an adjustment. Southwest is still free of change fees.

Phone or In-Person Booking Fee
Major carriers now all charge $25 to book a reservation by phone and even more to do so in person with a reservation agent. Spirit charges $10 for a desk agent to print a passenger's boarding pass. Unlike baggage and change fees, these types of charges are less about making money for the airline. "They're about modifying consumer behavior," says Jay Sorensen, an airline industry consultant. The more that passengers make use of technology like self-service check-ins and booking apps with scanner-readable codes, the more the airlines save in staff and overhead.

Tip: If you want a human touch, avoid airline staff and turn instead to a travel agent. While you pay a fee for their services, the assistance goes far beyond booking your tickets. A good agent will be able to reschedule your flights in case of a cancellation and may be able to get you negotiated rates on your accommodations.

Seat Selection and Priority Boarding
Cutting capacity has had a twofold benefit for the airlines: not only have they been able to raise fares, but flights are now so crowded that passengers are compelled to dip into their pockets and pay for whatever they can to make the experience more bearable. Fees range widely across carriers for seat selection and priority boarding privileges and may begin to shift within a given airline as companies learn to take advantage of scarcity with more dynamic pricing. For instance, airlines might offer priority boarding at a higher rate on a Monday morning when the security line is backed up, versus a quiet Saturday evening.

Tip: American Airlines announced in May 2013 it will grant Group 2 boarding for free to passengers who bring only a carry-on item small enough to fit under the seat. So when possible, leave that roller bag behind. 

In-Flight Amenity Fees
Complimentary coach-class meals on domestic hauls are now a faint memory for U.S. travelers. At least a free can of soda can be counted on or so we thought. In July, fee-friendly Frontier started charging $1.99 for soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea for passengers booked on lower-tier fares. Not even water is sacred to Spirit Airlines, which charges $3 for a bottle. Pillows and blankets have been removed from many domestic flights; other airlines name a price ($7 on U.S. Airways; $4.99-$5.99 on JetBlue). 

Airlines have long charged for headsets, and now some make you pay for the entertainment too. JetBlue's pay-per-view, for instance, offers movies at $5.99.

Tip: Some co-branded airline credit cards provide discounts; Citi's AAdvantage MasterCard entitles cardholders 25% off in-flight purchases. But it's easy to avoid these fees by boarding with your own fleece or blanket, snacks and earbuds.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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