The Future Of Air Travel Fees - Consumerist Comments

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

PeanutButter — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:49:19 EDT

@Claystil: they make great party favor bags.

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

PeanutButter — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:45:44 EDT

@stanfrombrooklyn: because that would make too much sense. being nice to customers is the right thing to do, but they act like they do just for shits and giggles.

PeanutButter

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

Claystil — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:57:23 EDT

That's a great deal on an airsick bag.

Claystil

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

wwwhitney — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:57:02 EDT

@Keat: That's the dilemma the airline industry is facing. They have little control over the price that shows up on websites like Priceline or Orbitz. If one carrier has a ticket at $200, other carriers have to match or get very close to that price for the same route/time even if it means losing money.

The only way for them to keep treading water is to ding you for all its worth with surprise fees once you've already purchased your non-refundable ticket. Note that the vast majority of these fees don't apply to loyal customers in frequent flyer programs. Airlines don't care if you're pissed at them if you only flew them because they offered the cheapest price (i.e. the vast majority of customers).

It's messed up and it's cutthroat but until fuel prices go down (yeah right) or customers stop shopping based on price alone (in which case you'd still be paying for those fees, they would just appear in the ticket price), the situation isn't going to change.

wwwhitney

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

NoWin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:34:55 EDT

Needs a "We will take it seriously Fee" (Payable only in-advance) Rate to be determined.

NoWin

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

mmcnary — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:54:02 EDT

I just punked my boss with this. I told him it was for a 1 day conference next month. He got about 1/2 way down before the nickel dropped...

mmcnary

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

ninjatales — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:56:11 EDT

Fee Fi Fo Fum
I smell a human scum!

ninjatales

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

LUV2CattleCall — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:44:41 EDT

'Nuff said!

LUV2CattleCall

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

femmesavante — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:58:29 EDT

HAHA. I'm crying laughing at this.

femmesavante

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

econobiker — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:54:55 EDT

@econobiker:

Above should have said: Where is the "FAA/Governmental regulation cost recovery fee"?

econobiker

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

econobiker — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:51:31 EDT

@azntg

econobiker

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

DearEditor — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:49 EDT

@PeanutButter: For $13.75 you can pre-book a table-less seat. Lap service is available for $50 per 15 minutes (select flights only).

DearEditor

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

Keat — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:56:58 EDT

Raising prices is fine. It's tacking on fees after the sale that's the problem. If I'm shopping for a flight, I want to be able to realistically compare prices between the airlines.

I don't want to save $10 on a ticket only to find out later that my second bag will cost me $25 but would have been free on the airline that was $10 more.

Keat

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

stanfrombrooklyn — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:47:08 EDT

American just cancelled our flight from Paris to JFK so we were rebooked on Air France. Even though we were in crowded coach, we giggled the whole trip home that we actually got served free meals, free drinks, free wine, free beer, and everyone had a little TV in their armrest. The flight attendants were nice, well mannered, and didn't seem like they were pissed they had to show up to work. Why can't US airlines operate this way?

stanfrombrooklyn

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

TheRealAbsurdist — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:02:00 EDT

@howie_in_az: Then it becomes an exhalation fee...

TheRealAbsurdist

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

warnold — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:30:44 EDT

What I really like, is that there's one more price listed than there are fees named.

Nice way of cheating someone in a price listing like this.

warnold

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

PeanutButter — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:06:58 EDT

if i don't use the tray table, do i get my 2.75 back?

PeanutButter

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

scarletvirtue - plays well with scissors — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:49:31 EDT

@ptkdude: I thought the "Fee Fee" was quite amusing, too.

If only because there's a "Fee Fee Road" in St. Louis.

scarletvirtue - plays well with scissors

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

CaliforniaCajun — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:47:42 EDT

@howie_in_az: Sill. You can't bring your own oxygen generator unless it is an approved model.

And for the approval, there is a $75.00 fee.

CaliforniaCajun

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

azntg — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:22:45 EDT

that and the "Fee: FAA Airplane Maintenance Compliance Fee"!

Especially in light of relatively current events!

azntg

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

azntg — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:21:57 EDT

Where's the "Fee: Just Because We Can Charge This and Blame FAA For It Fee"?

azntg

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

howie_in_az — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:15:37 EDT

$75 for air! What if I bring my own?

howie_in_az

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

ADismalScience — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:15:36 EDT

Maybe we can fly planes by burning consumer angst. With oil at $120 a barrel we're going to have to find some alternative to fossil fuels.

ADismalScience

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

ptkdude — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:29:43 EDT

My favorite has to be the Fee Fee.

ptkdude

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

Buckus — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:15:47 EDT

Seriously, though, airlines won't be able to survive unless they can raise ticket prices in-line with their expenses. I once worked at a computer store whose motto seemed to be "We lose money on each sale, but we make up for it in volume!" Well, needless to say, it went of business. If airlines cannot raise their ticket prices to meet expenses, soon there will be only a few airlines left and if you think ticket prices are high now, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Buckus

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

Joewithay — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:07:44 EDT

Fee: lol fee $4.50

Joewithay

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

Buran — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:06:01 EDT

@jmschn: I smell the blood of an ENGLISHMAN!

Buran

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

doctor_cos — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:52:35 EDT

Answering "What's this fee for?" fee....$7.95
Answering "Are you fricking serious?" fee....$9.95

doctor_cos

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

pfblueprint — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:49:14 EDT

@adambadam: ahhhh you beat me to the punch

pfblueprint

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

pfblueprint — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:54 EDT

I like how the "complimentary" air sickness bag costs money in the future. :)

pfblueprint

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

adambadam — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:39:45 EDT

I love how the complimentary bag costs me a buck twenty-three

adambadam

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

smirky — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:38:26 EDT

Buckle & air sickness bag use tutorial and emergency exit instructions fee....$8.50

smirky

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

jmschn — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:36:34 EDT

LOL Fi Fo Fum!

jmschn

The Future Of Air Travel Fees

ConsumptionJunkie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:31:24 EDT

First, Delta, now U.S. Airways. Isn't price collusion illegal?

ConsumptionJunkie