Avoid these 7 nasty airline fees

By SmartMoney.com

Airfare represents a mere fraction of the total cost to fly these days. From the time you walk into the terminal until the plane lands, your total fare will surpass the quote you received from your favorite travel site when you booked the flight.

"Every week, it's a different airline and a different fee," says Anne Banas, executive editor for travel advice site SmarterTravel.com. Blame it on high fuel costs and an economy in the tank, which have sparked billion-dollar losses industrywide.

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Looking for ways to make up for those losses -- without scaring off customers by raising fares -- airlines have begun charging for the most basic amenities. "We are truly going to an a-la-carte system," says Tom Parsons, CEO of discount airfares site BestFares.com. "It's down to the nickel and dime from here on out."

For consumers, the best defense is to factor in the fees each airline charges when comparing fares, Banas says. Here are seven instances in which fees are assessed and how to avoid them:

Booking

Except for Southwest Airlines, every major airline charges a fee to book a flight over the phone. The worst offenders are Delta Air Lines, Frontier and United Airlines, which charge $25 per ticket.

Third-party travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz charge around $7 per ticket for online booking. To avoid these fees, book directly on an airline's Web site, says George Hobica, publisher of fare-tracking site AirfareWatchdog.com.

Redeeming frequent-flier miles

"Some people have been collecting miles for years, and now they have to pay extra to use them," Parsons says. US Airways charges $25 to $50 for you to book a flight using frequent-flier miles. American Airlines charges $5. On Oct. 1, the airline began charging new fees for rewards upgrades ($50 to upgrade from coach to first class on a domestic flight, for instance) and higher mile requirements (a round-trip ticket to Europe costs 20,000 more miles). Worse, it's extremely tough for frequent fliers to redeem their miles now that airlines have cut back on flights, Parsons says.

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Choosing a seat

Opt to stretch out in an exit row, and it'll cost you. AirTran charges a flat $20 each way for those seats, while United charges anywhere from $14 to $109 per flight. Even if you aren't angling for extra legroom, you can get charged just for choosing a seat.

Spirit Airlines assesses a $15 fee to passengers who choose a window seat, $12 for an aisle and $5 for one in the middle. To avoid paying, check in online as early as possible -- usually 24 hours before the flight -- and you should be able to pick a seat for free, Hobica says.

Changing a ticket

Southwest is the only airline that doesn't charge domestic ticket holders for altering an itinerary. Change a flight on any other airline, and you can expect to pay a fee ranging from $75 (Alaska Airlines, for online changes) to $150 (American, Continental, United and US Airways).

The best defense against these fees is to solidify plans before you book, Banas says. Paying a slightly higher fare usually costs less than getting hit with a change fee.

Curbside baggage check

Don't feel like rolling your suitcases inside the terminal? It'll cost you. Northwest and US Airways charge $2 per bag for curbside check-in. Use a little elbow grease and roll the luggage inside in order to avoid the first of many fees at the airport, Parsons says.

Checking bags

When it comes to checking luggage, it's now a virtual fee-for-all, Banas warns. American, Northwest, United, Delta and US Airways all charge $15 for the first checked bag.

Think you can avoid the second-bag fee by stuffing everything into one case? That may end up costing even more. Going just 1 pound over the 50-pound limit triggers an overweight fee of $39 (AirTran) to $175 (United). Stick to carry-on bags (although be prepared to fight for space) or ship extra-heavy bags to the hotel ahead of time to avoid these fees.

In-flight amenities

Forget about relaxing with a soft pillow and a cold drink. US Airways, for example, now charges $2 for nonalcoholic drinks.

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And be prepared to get hit in other ways. Want a pillow and blanket on your JetBlue flight? That'll be $7. To avoid paying $3 for a bag of chips, pack snacks and an inflatable pillow from home and buy a drink at the terminal, Hobica says.

This story was reported by Kelli B. Grant for SmartMoney.com.

Updated April 22, 2009