Airline fees: What you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, more

[LL_Travelfan]

Here is sort of an update on airline fees, an article written by Christopher Elliot: Is the era of excessive airline fees really over?

[copahc]

Sometimes what the LCC's in Europe do first, eventually comes here to the US. Ryanair already charges for printing boarding passes, and this practice was just ruled as illegal in Spain. The 40 euro charge was challenged in Barcelona. Scroll down and also look at some of the comments to this policy (using the link below). Sometimes you can't print a boarding pass when on the road, or your app for it doesn't work. At least, for now, we aren't charged here in the US for printing boarding passes at the airport.

Ryanair charges for printing boarding passes ruled illegal in Spain - Telegraph

It will be interesting to watch the outcome of this one. Ryanair plans to appeal. If Ryanair is successful, might we expect the same here in the US since all the airlines are looking for ways to "strip out costs"?

Speaking of stripping, Ryanair is stripping for charity.......

Ryanair cabin crew strip off for charity calendar - Telegraph

I've seen this before where America has kind of blamed European airlines for introduction of all the fees. In fairness.. I fly European airlines all the time. Almost none of them charge these extra fees. There are only a few super low cost airlines that continue to do so.. Ryan Air being the leader of that pack. But there are some great low cost airlines such as Transavia, and Vueling that still do not charge for your first checked bag. (I will caveat by saying their weight limits are sometimes less, but I find Europeans pack MUCH less than Americans do) Quite a difference when you realize almost every single American carrier charges now-a-days. I usually manage to avoid these super low cost airlines however because I can find a reasonable ticket on a normal carrier. Just the other week I booked a non-stop ticket on KLM from Amsterdam to Budapest for $133 RT. No bag fees, that even includes a meal (free) as many European airlines still do these days, as well as free beer and wine. When's the last time you've seen that on an American carrier? Actually I've really enjoyed avoiding most of these ridiculous fees over here.. when I'm back in the States it's super annoying to fly.

[LL_Travelfan]

Hi copac,
I agree, that apart from Ryan Air, the super cheap airline, most European airlines do not charge for bags, and give you a pretty good deal on short hops within Europe. I love Air Berlin, and I can fly from Munich to Paris for 99 Euros round trip on Lufthansa. Air Berlin and Lufthansa both provide free newspapers and magazines, free coffee and snacks before boarding, and a free snack and drink in flight. Their flights are on time and the service is friendly. Also the European airport security is less of a hassle compared to the US. The exception to this, I would say is England, where the security fees are very stiff and the security procedures are more than a hassle, especially coming from the European mainland and going to the US. I tend to avoid English transfers.

[jmbklj]

More bad press for RyanAir for charging fees to check in even online! And Spirit for charging a fee to book online rather than at the airport!

Seat Selection Fees? I haven't encountered this practice but this article calls out Air Canada AirTran, Allegiant, Continental, Spirit & US Airways for doing so. This doesn't seem to be a fee for a "preferred seat" but rather a fee simply for selecting a seat in advance. Am I interpreting this wrong? Have you seen this practice of charging a fee just to select a seat in advance?

High fuel surcharges on "free" award tickets - the article talks about British Airways but I don't think they're the only ones that do this.

Which airline fees are the most 'sinful?' - USATODAY.com

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As far as I am aware the seat selection fee is too pay more to select a seat with more leg room - exit row or bulkhead seats for example - at least that is what Continental is doing - not sure about the other airlines mentioned above.
D

[LL_Travelfan]

United is doing the same thing for their front section with additional leg room. American keeps that area free of charge for their Gold and Platinum members.

[copahc]

UGH! I just booked tickets on Ryan Air. I hate them! I booked 6 tickets. For each ticket I had to pay 40 euro extra for 1 checked bag (15 kilo); 12 euro for on-line check-in, which is apparently mandatory because there was no way to remove it from the ticket; 4 euro for a levy (who knows what that is); and 12 euro for administration fee. I feel raped. If I weren’t travelling with friends I wouldn’t fly on them. They were unfortunately still cheaper than any other ticket so I guess I can’t complain :-/

Oh but they also charged higher for the 3rd and 4th ticket and then for the 5th and 6th ticket. We tried to beat the system by booking them in 2’s at the same time, but it didn’t work. One of the sessions froze when I submitted payment so I couldn’t tell if I paid or not. After calling the airline (and paying 50 cents per minute to listen to a recording and select different options), I then found out the call center was closed. Funny.. the business hours were not posted out their website..

I’ve also heard people say that they think the prices will increase based on the number of hits they get on a certain ticket.. so if you keep searching for it the price will go up…

[jmbklj]

UGH! I just booked tickets on Ryan Air. I hate them! I booked 6 tickets. For each ticket I had to pay 40 euro extra for 1 checked bag (15 kilo); 12 euro for on-line check-in, which is apparently mandatory because there was no way to remove it from the ticket; 4 euro for a levy (who knows what that is); and 12 euro for administration fee. I feel raped. If I weren’t travelling with friends I wouldn’t fly on them. They were unfortunately still cheaper than any other ticket so I guess I can’t complain :-/

Oh but they also charged higher for the 3rd and 4th ticket and then for the 5th and 6th ticket. We tried to beat the system by booking them in 2’s at the same time, but it didn’t work. One of the sessions froze when I submitted payment so I couldn’t tell if I paid or not. After calling the airline (and paying 50 cents per minute to listen to a recording and select different options), I then found out the call center was closed. Funny.. the business hours were not posted out their website..

I’ve also heard people say that they think the prices will increase based on the number of hits they get on a certain ticket.. so if you keep searching for it the price will go up…

Good news for you that after all those extra added fees that your fare is still competitive, but it is quite misleading and frustrating not to know what your true final cost is until after it's all done.

Thanks for the tips on Ryan Air!

[omegaet]

Airline fees: What you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, more

If you haven't seen this article on Airline Fees at Airline fees: What you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, more - USATODAY.com, please have a look at the link. This article is the most comprehensive listing on what you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, etc. that I have seen.
I hope you'll find this helpful.

I tried to reprint the article here, but unfortunately the tabs did not hold, so please open the link yourself.

Oh no, more bad news for AAward Miles users.....looks like American Airlines will be increasing their award fees effective August 25, 2011

AAdvantage Award Processing Charges
Ticketing less than 21 days prior to departure
(Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and
AAdvantage Gold® members using miles from their account)
Tickets issued prior to 8/25/11
Tickets issued 20 - 7 days prior to departure†† $50
Tickets issued 6 days to 2 hours prior to departure†† $100
Tickets issued on or after 8/25/11
Tickets issued 20 days to 2 hours prior to departureˆ $75

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I am getting so sick of all these fees - what a way to keep gouging the customers. Just raise the base fare already and get it over with!