It’s tough to keep track of all the different fees airlines are inventing to keep their corpulent industry from immediately imploding, so here’s the current status, as rounded up by the Baltimore Sun:

BEVERAGES

• Beer, wine and alcoholic cocktails – $4 (Southwest Airlines); $5 (Delta, United, US Airways, American Airlines) $6 (AirTran Airways)

MEALS

• Snack boxes and sandwiches range from $3-$8 (Delta, United, US Airways, American)
• Continental Airlines is the sole major U.S. carrier to still offer complimentary snacks (2+ hour flights) and meals (3+ hour flights)
• No sandwiches or meals available on Southwest or AirTran

CHECKING BAGS

• Second bag – $10 (AirTran); $25 (American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways)
• Southwest charges starting with third bag – $25

SEAT ASSIGNMENTS

• Exit row extra legroom – $20 (AirTran); $5 to $35 (Northwest Airlines)
• Window, aisle seats in front of plane – $5 to $30 (US Airways)
• Reserving seat number in advance online – $6 (AirTran)
• Business Select early boarding – $10 to $30 more than highest fare (Southwest)

UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN (nonstop flights)

• $100 (Delta, US Airways); $99 (United); $75 (American, Continental); $75-$120 (Northwest)
• $39 (AirTran)
• free (Southwest)

CURBSIDE CHECK-IN

• $3 per bag (Delta)
• $2 per bag (Delta, United, US Airways, American, Northwest)
• Free (Southwest and AirTran)

HEADPHONES

• $5 (US Airways)
• Free on United, AirTran
• No in-flight entertainment (Southwest)

PETS

• $65 one-way for small pets in a carrier that fits under the seat (AirTran)
• $100 for small pets in cabin to North American locations (Delta, US Airways and United); $95 (Continental); $80 (American, Northwest)

Southwest doesn’t allow pets to be brought on-board or stored as cargo

A good list to have when you’re looking to compare real prices between airlines.

Flying the fee-filled skies [Baltimore Sun] (Thanks to Natan!)

(Photo: Getty)

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