nsxt2000
01-05-2011, 02:22 PM
Here are some of the most outrageous fees imposed in 2010 - (seems like all apply to the airlines for some strange reason) //
* Paying for leg room
Continental Airlines raised the cost of exit-row seats in coach. While prices vary, MainStreet reported that these seats cost $59 on one flight from Newark to Houston, and some airlines regularly charge for roomier seats. US Airways, for example, asks customers for $5 to $30 extra to get a view of the friendly skies from the window seat.
* Paying for peanuts
Now, here's a fee where you pay a lot for very little. Delta, Alaska and United currently charge up to $7 for snacks, while US Airways hijacks $2 from passengers for a simple bottle of water. You could satiate your appetite with the carrier's $6 snack box, but then you'd be paying 400% more than the supermarket price, and that's just stupid.
* Paying extra for coach
Last August, MainStreet reported American Airlines' decision to start charging passengers $19 to $39 extra to "book the first few rows in coach." The airline went so far as to rebrand those rows "express seats," and in its press release claimed it was "providing (customers) the convenience of being among the first coach passengers on and off the plane." While this all sounds nice on paper, most passengers doubt any perks come with flying second class.
* Continental's FareLock
There's nothing more satisfying than booking your flight before it sells out, or reserving the seat while shopping around for a better deal.
Continental obviously knows this, hence its foray this year into charging fliers to hold their fares. The service, aptly dubbed FareLock, lets customers lock in a fare and save their seats for up to a week while they browse, and they get hit with a fee of $5 to $19 to do it. "This new option is another way that Continental is giving our customers more choices and more control over their travel experience," said Chris Amenechi, the managing director of merchandising, in the press release. Sure, if that means choosing another airline.
* Toilet toll
OK, this one happened across the pond, but that doesn't make it any less stupid.
Budget airline Ryanair caused an uproar when it tapped Boeing to retrofit more than 150 of its planes with coin-operated lavatories. The manufacturer flatly (and wisely) refused, but that didn't stop Ryanair from going even further, asking Boeing to remove a few loos to make seat room.
* Charging for carry-ons
Fliers weren't pleased when low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines revealed back in April that it would start charging fliers up to $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage that they couldn't stow under a seat. Of course, air travelers could save a cool $15 if they purchased their carry-on allowance online, but why bother?
-Mike S.
P.S. - Kind of makes you just want to drive in your Acura rather than fly...
* Paying for leg room
Continental Airlines raised the cost of exit-row seats in coach. While prices vary, MainStreet reported that these seats cost $59 on one flight from Newark to Houston, and some airlines regularly charge for roomier seats. US Airways, for example, asks customers for $5 to $30 extra to get a view of the friendly skies from the window seat.
* Paying for peanuts
Now, here's a fee where you pay a lot for very little. Delta, Alaska and United currently charge up to $7 for snacks, while US Airways hijacks $2 from passengers for a simple bottle of water. You could satiate your appetite with the carrier's $6 snack box, but then you'd be paying 400% more than the supermarket price, and that's just stupid.
* Paying extra for coach
Last August, MainStreet reported American Airlines' decision to start charging passengers $19 to $39 extra to "book the first few rows in coach." The airline went so far as to rebrand those rows "express seats," and in its press release claimed it was "providing (customers) the convenience of being among the first coach passengers on and off the plane." While this all sounds nice on paper, most passengers doubt any perks come with flying second class.
* Continental's FareLock
There's nothing more satisfying than booking your flight before it sells out, or reserving the seat while shopping around for a better deal.
Continental obviously knows this, hence its foray this year into charging fliers to hold their fares. The service, aptly dubbed FareLock, lets customers lock in a fare and save their seats for up to a week while they browse, and they get hit with a fee of $5 to $19 to do it. "This new option is another way that Continental is giving our customers more choices and more control over their travel experience," said Chris Amenechi, the managing director of merchandising, in the press release. Sure, if that means choosing another airline.
* Toilet toll
OK, this one happened across the pond, but that doesn't make it any less stupid.
Budget airline Ryanair caused an uproar when it tapped Boeing to retrofit more than 150 of its planes with coin-operated lavatories. The manufacturer flatly (and wisely) refused, but that didn't stop Ryanair from going even further, asking Boeing to remove a few loos to make seat room.
* Charging for carry-ons
Fliers weren't pleased when low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines revealed back in April that it would start charging fliers up to $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage that they couldn't stow under a seat. Of course, air travelers could save a cool $15 if they purchased their carry-on allowance online, but why bother?
-Mike S.
P.S. - Kind of makes you just want to drive in your Acura rather than fly...