Reasons the Airlines are Charging for Everything

According to Joe Brancatelli, airlines are al a carting, charging for everything separately in order to make more money.

To me that's pretty obvious. I remember a now defunct, airline's claim had said that our responses to their survey were the reason that they stopped feeding us on domestic flights and thinking that had to be a bogus claim. They probably interviewed business class passengers who are still being fed. It was pretty obvious that they were twisting the truth or lying.

This sounds similar to a recent hearing, in the House of Representatives, on what the airlines have been doing. The CEO of Spirit Airlines claimed that luggage fees should not be taxed because checked baggage doesn't cost the airlines or airports like the passengers do. Oh yeah, then why are they even charging at all for the baggage
if they are so free and easy?

Why Are Airlines Charging Us for Everything?:

This leads me to the point of the possible true reason why the airlines are nickel and diming us out of everything they can get.

A 7.5 percent excise tax is charged on every fare that is paid, to help pay for the upkeep and repairs of the national airports. Fees and surcharges are not included in that tax. In case I didn't make this really clear, all fees and surcharges are tax free. That's extra money in the airline's pockets, our money.

My family and my husband's family used to be in business and that kind of practice is considered getting paid under the table and punishable by fines and possible jail time if the transgression is big enough. It's considered a crime.

But what is it considered in the airline industry when up to a possible 54 percent of your ticket is going to uncontrolled fees and other various unlisted charges, that you have no way of finding out what they are Until you pay for your ticket?

To add to this situation, the DOT is dithering over whether it even has a role in straightening this mess out.

I would suggest that the next time that you find that you're being fined for; having a checked or carry on bag, traveling on a peak-day(called a Day of Travel charge), choosing your seat, wanting a soft drink, a snack or a meal, the method of how you reserve or change your ticket or even how you pay for that same ticket then
I would suggest that you either file a complaint with the DOT or if your flight is domestic, fly Southwest.

I would also recommend using a travel site like Orbitz or Yahoo Travel. They give you the complete ticket price before you pay for it, except for the baggage or ticket change fees. They also let you know which carrier you're
flying with before you choose your ticket.

There are no unpleasant surprises. Plus, these sites often don't charge a reservation fee anymore and allow you to cancel or change your ticket for a fee.

Orbitz's FAQs Site:

For more information on whatever question you may have pertaining to your ticket or any other flight related question, Orbitz has a wonderfully detailed FAQs section that you can check out. In fact I came across something I can use now since I'm going out of the country soon.

While I was checking out the FAQs on Orbitz I clicked on their page for the latest European travel alert for US citizens going out of the country. They suggested that if we are traveling out of the country it would be wise to register with the State Department in case of problems arising while we are abroad they would know where to look for us. They also provide email updates on the situation before we leave so we can make an informed decision on our travel plans.

Sources:

http://www.portfolio.com/business-travel/2010/07/21/the-business-motivation-behind-airlines-decision-to-unbundle-fares-hike-fees/index1.html#ixzz13VqQLzhu

http://faq.orbitz.com/

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/