Nickeled and Dimed to Death by the Airlines

The airlines are at it again. You may have noticed that airfares are going up. Gone are the days that I can get a $99 ticket to Buffalo from Phoenix on Southwest – they seem to think $129 each way is a bargain. But not only are airlines raising their fares, they’re coming up with new ways to charge you for extra stuff.

Remember a few years ago when we started paying for meals aboard the plane? And then came the fees for checked luggage weighing more than 50 lbs. Now a fee charged by all major airlines for curbside check-in not only has travelers griping, it’s affecting skycaps who rely on tips from customers. Either the travelers are cutting tips, or bypassing the service altogether. (though some skycaps are seeking restitution)

As you may have heard, a surcharge as much as $25 is being added for a second checked bag on airlines like Continental, Northwest, US Airways and Delta – who’s next?

Yesterday US Airways announced they will soon “begin offering passengers the option of buying an aisle or window seat in the front of the plane for between $5 and $30 per flight.” (Source azcentral.com) Now really, do they think their PR tactics are working on us? “Offering” to sell us a seat we may have otherwise earned through frequent flyer miles is no deal, any way you word it.

So I ask, what’s next on the list? Charging more for all aisle and window seats? Pay lockers replacing the overhead bins? A charge for soda, water and pretzels? A housekeeping fee when they come to pick up your garbage? Maybe pay toilets???

Airlines, please just raise our ticket prices by a couple bucks and give us back the simple illusion (or should I say blissful ignorance?) that we’re getting these ‘perks’ without paying for them. It makes comparing ticket prices so much easier.