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These days airlines are desperate to raise revenues without raising fares. One solution? Tack on some fees.
"The airlines are getting more into the nickel-and-dime mentality, exploring every angle to bring in incremental income," says Tom Parsons, the CEO of BestFares.com.
Competition from low-cost carriers makes it tough for major airlines to increase fares, he says, so they make up the difference in fine-print fees. Here are 10 to watch out for:
Booking fees
Potential cost: $5 to $25.
"The most prevalent sneaky fee is a booking charge of $10 to $25 if you want to make a reservation any way but through the airline's Web site," says Ed Perkins, a contributing editor for SmarterTravel.com. If you call the airline, most charge you at least $15 per ticket for phone reservations. Third-party travel sites charge these fees, too: Expect to pay $5 to $15 per ticket on sites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity for securing your reservation.
Solution: Use travel comparison and booking sites to shop around, but make your arrangements through an airline's Web site. It's the only fee-free way to book.
Change-of-plans fees
Potential cost: $25 and up.
"Be sure of your plans if you're really going for the low-fare price," cautions David Lytle, the editorial director for Frommers.com.
- Talk back: Have you been whacked by extra fees?
The cheapest fare classes are nonrefundable and can't be changed at all. Even if you pay more upfront for a refundable fare, you're still subject to hefty change fees. Most airlines charge a flat fee in addition to the difference in fares between your old and new travel dates.
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Discount tickets purchased through third-party travel sites and travel agents carry even bigger penalties. Delta, for example, regularly charges $50 to change your flight. If you didn't buy your ticket through Delta.com or over the phone through one of its agents, the airline charges an additional $10 to $15 to change your reservation, plus the fare difference.
Looking to change your reservation by just an hour or two? Expect to pay for that. Continental and Northwest both charge a $25 fee to allow passengers to get a confirmed seat on an earlier flight.
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Solution: If there's a chance your plans may change, look into the airline's policy before you book. Paying a little more for your ticket through the airline's own site instead of a third-party site can save you in the long run should you need to switch flight times or dates, Lytle says. For standby seats, your best bet is to show up early and ask. This standard standby route is still fee-free.
Airport-improvement fees
Potential cost: $4.50 to $160.
If Chicago approves O'Hare International Airport's new runway, its travelers can expect an additional $4.50 charge per airline ticket to fund construction. These so-called passenger facility charges aren't uncommon, though the Federal Aviation Administration regulates them carefully, says Perkins, of SmarterTravel.com.
- Farecast on MSN Travel: Know when to buy
International flights are worse. In January, the United Kingdom doubled its air-passenger duty, taxing consumers for the greenhouse-gas emissions created by flights entering or leaving the country. For coach passengers, the new fee is $80, while first-class passengers pay $160.
Solution: If you can, divert your trip to an airport (or country) where the tax is less expensive, Perkins says. For domestic flights, check the Federal Aviation Administration's PFC database.
Pick-your-seat fees
Potential cost: $15 to $299.
When flying coach, there are two givens in the seat-selection game, says BestFares.com's Parsons. Nobody wants the middle, and everyone wants extra legroom.
United charges $299 annually for an Economy Plus subscription, which gets you and a traveling companion seats with 5 inches of extra legroom whenever available. On Northwest, booking an exit-row seat costs $15 extra, while American charges consumers who didn't book directly through the airline a $15 fee to change their seats.
Solution: Look before you book to see whether your airline charges a fee for specific seats. Already booked?
Wait until you're at the gate and then ask nicely if there are open exit-row (window/aisle) seats, suggests Parsons.
That late in the game, it's the gate agents' discretion to seat you, and they probably won't charge.
Curb-side check-in fees
Potential cost: $2 per bag, plus tip.
Handing over your luggage prematurely can cost you, depending on your airline and departure airport. Alaska, Northwest and United airlines charge $2 per bag (plus tip) for curb-side baggage check-in at major hubs.
Solution: Ask about a charge before you hand over your bags -- or haul your luggage another hundred feet or so to the counter inside.
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