Airline extras: Annoying now, worse later

Airline extras: Annoying now, worse later

We frequently hear from readers who question extra charges or add-ons
to their air travel bills. Sadly, extra charges are becoming the norm
rather than the exception, to the extent that you often find it hard
to make valid price comparisons among competitive lines. Some of the
most common added charges include:

* Taxes and user fees imposed by external agencies—governments,
public authorities, airports, and such.
* Optional extra charges—announced in advance—for features,
amenities, and conveniences that were once bundled into the basic
price of your ticket. As airlines try to pare costs and increase
revenues, many try to keep advertised prices low by nickel-and-diming
their customers for everything but the basic flight.
* Mandatory extras that airlines exclude from advertised prices
but tack on somewhere along the line. This practice is an out-and-out
scam, but that doesn't seem to deter airlines outside the U.S. from
using it.

Sadly, the problem of extra charges is likely to get worse, not
better. Here's a rundown of what you can expect now—and what you might
face in the future—in the way of extras on your air ticket. Next week
I'll cover hotels, rental cars, and other travel suppliers.

Taxes and user fees

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that airlines include
applicable federal air ticket taxes in the published fare—a
requirement that bars all sorts of deceptions airlines might otherwise
try. And the principle of federal pre-emption prevents state and local
governments from taxing air tickets without explicit governmental
approval. Accordingly, I don't expect any creative new fees applied to
air tickets. Unfortunately, other countries have no such legal limits,
so many foreign airlines are free to add all sorts of fees.

You face several airport-based user fees.

* Airports in the U.S. are authorized to apply "passenger facility
charges" (PFCs) on air tickets, which many airports now do. PFCs are
not included in the posted fare but they are collected when you buy
your ticket. Instead of PFCs, many foreign airports assess arrival and
departure fees and taxes—sometimes collected with your ticket, other
times collected separately at the airport.
* You also pay a fee for security screening at U.S. airports—again
collected with your ticket.
* Customs and Immigration authorities in the U.S. and elsewhere
add fees and charges—added to your ticket purchase in the U.S.,
sometimes collected separately in other countries.

Airlines are allowed to exclude all of those fees and charges from
their advertised fares, and they can add up to a big hit on your
travel cost—occasionally raising the total cost of a round-trip
international ticket by more than $100.

Outside the U.S., you can expect even more such taxes and fees in the
future, including some that have nothing to do with air travel. France
is in the process of adding a stiff air ticket tax that will be used
to fund humanitarian programs in the Third World—a laudable goal,
perhaps, but clearly unrelated to travel. Other European governments
are looking at similar levies.

Optional extras

Many airlines have already unbundled meal service from the basic price
of the ticket, especially in economy class.

* You pay for a meal, brownbag, or you don't eat.
* Many have added their own charge for curbside baggage
check-in—in addition to the tip most travelers have given skycaps.
* Many lines have charged for inflight movies and alcoholic
beverages for some time.
* Most already charge extra for phone or airport-counter
reservations and ticketing.
* It's a foregone conclusion that travelers will pay for the
onboard wireless Internet service that's on almost every traveler's
wish list.

You can glean some ideas of the future from recent initiatives here
and overseas.

* American Eagle is already experimenting with a charge for the
usually-free soft drinks, coffee, or tea.
* Several low-fare lines overseas are charging for each piece of
checked baggage—no more "free" baggage allowance.
* Air Canada charges extra for a "comfort" package of a blanket
plus an inflatable pillow.
* Some European charter lines already charge extra for the
extra-legroom exit-row and bulkhead seat assignments; some charge
extra for any advanced seat assignment at all.
* Some writers have speculated that airlines might soon charge
extra for the preferred aisle and window seats.

Continued...

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Good article..


-----------------------------------
http://travel.fyicenter.com
Travel - Resource Center

"Ablang" wrote in message
...
Airline extras: Annoying now, worse later

We frequently hear from readers who question extra charges or add-ons
to their air travel bills. Sadly, extra charges are becoming the norm
rather than the exception, to the extent that you often find it hard
to make valid price comparisons among competitive lines. Some of the
most common added charges include:

* Taxes and user fees imposed by external agencies-governments,
public authorities, airports, and such.

I think it is necessary to distinguish between fees and charges that
are added onto the bottom line when booking and those which are
charged later.

The former are just a (reverse) marketing hook and are never going
to be anything more than annoying. You see the full price before you
click 'ok' and as long as you don't book in a stupid hurry you still get
the chance to compare (I often have 4 browsers open for the three
low cost and one full price, but very low service, airline for the route
that currently need to book)

* Optional extra charges-announced in advance-for features,
amenities, and conveniences that were once bundled into the basic
price of your ticket. As airlines try to pare costs and increase
revenues, many try to keep advertised prices low by nickel-and-diming
their customers for everything but the basic flight.
* Mandatory extras that airlines exclude from advertised prices
but tack on somewhere along the line. This practice is an out-and-out
scam, but that doesn't seem to deter airlines outside the U.S. from
using it.

Not sure what you mean by this, are you referring to the taxes
that are not taxes, that are added onto the fare when you pay
it. See my comment above.

Optional extras

Many airlines have already unbundled meal service from the basic price
of the ticket, especially in economy class.

* You pay for a meal, brownbag, or you don't eat.

Who needs to eat on a one hour journey?

And why expect to get fed anyway. No-one comes around
with tea and biscuits when you ride the train/coach or go by
car

* Many have added their own charge for curbside baggage
check-in-in addition to the tip most travelers have given skycaps.

So carry your bag to the normal check in desk.

* Many lines have charged for inflight movies and alcoholic
beverages for some time.
* Most already charge extra for phone or airport-counter
reservations and ticketing.

I don't actually understand why a physical ticket costs
as much as it does. I've seen fees of up to 25 GBP, it's
only a bit of paper.

* It's a foregone conclusion that travelers will pay for the
onboard wireless Internet service that's on almost every traveler's
wish list.

You have to pay for it everywhere else, why should those who
don't travel with a laptop, subsidise those who do?

You can glean some ideas of the future from recent initiatives here
and overseas.

* American Eagle is already experimenting with a charge for the
usually-free soft drinks, coffee, or tea.

Quite common in Europe, as you say. Likely to become more
common.

* Several low-fare lines overseas are charging for each piece of
checked baggage-no more "free" baggage allowance.

This is a difficult one. Start charging for check-in and more people
are going to smuggle on carry-on. I note that this is covered on
the second page. I can just see the FAs checking each piece of
carry on has been paid for - not.

* Air Canada charges extra for a "comfort" package of a blanket
plus an inflatable pillow.

But you get to keep the pillow (why do you need one anyway?)

* Some European charter lines already charge extra for the
extra-legroom exit-row and bulkhead seat assignments; some charge
extra for any advanced seat assignment at all.

They do, don't they. I don't know how successful it is. Seems to
be just a package deal thing.

* Some writers have speculated that airlines might soon charge
extra for the preferred aisle and window seats.

can't see anyone paying for this.

tim

Soon it will cost more to collect the $ from budget travellers, than to buy,
warehouse, put on an airliner, return, and so on the cans of drink they are
supposedly "selling". It's all about the illusion of "low cost" airlines.

The real cost of selling a can of pop to a passenger that has barely paid
for the fuel will begin to outweigh the illusory benefit to the airline,
then the correction will begin.....


"Ablang" wrote in message
...
Airline extras: Annoying now, worse later

We frequently hear from readers who question extra charges or add-ons
to their air travel bills. Sadly, extra charges are becoming the norm
rather than the exception, to the extent that you often find it hard
to make valid price comparisons among competitive lines. Some of the
most common added charges include:

* Taxes and user fees imposed by external agencies-governments,
public authorities, airports, and such.
* Optional extra charges-announced in advance-for features,
amenities, and conveniences that were once bundled into the basic
price of your ticket. As airlines try to pare costs and increase
revenues, many try to keep advertised prices low by nickel-and-diming
their customers for everything but the basic flight.
* Mandatory extras that airlines exclude from advertised prices
but tack on somewhere along the line. This practice is an out-and-out
scam, but that doesn't seem to deter airlines outside the U.S. from
using it.

Sadly, the problem of extra charges is likely to get worse, not
better. Here's a rundown of what you can expect now-and what you might
face in the future-in the way of extras on your air ticket. Next week
I'll cover hotels, rental cars, and other travel suppliers.

Taxes and user fees

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that airlines include
applicable federal air ticket taxes in the published fare-a
requirement that bars all sorts of deceptions airlines might otherwise
try. And the principle of federal pre-emption prevents state and local
governments from taxing air tickets without explicit governmental
approval. Accordingly, I don't expect any creative new fees applied to
air tickets. Unfortunately, other countries have no such legal limits,
so many foreign airlines are free to add all sorts of fees.

You face several airport-based user fees.

* Airports in the U.S. are authorized to apply "passenger facility
charges" (PFCs) on air tickets, which many airports now do. PFCs are
not included in the posted fare but they are collected when you buy
your ticket. Instead of PFCs, many foreign airports assess arrival and
departure fees and taxes-sometimes collected with your ticket, other
times collected separately at the airport.
* You also pay a fee for security screening at U.S. airports-again
collected with your ticket.
* Customs and Immigration authorities in the U.S. and elsewhere
add fees and charges-added to your ticket purchase in the U.S.,
sometimes collected separately in other countries.

Airlines are allowed to exclude all of those fees and charges from
their advertised fares, and they can add up to a big hit on your
travel cost-occasionally raising the total cost of a round-trip
international ticket by more than $100.

Outside the U.S., you can expect even more such taxes and fees in the
future, including some that have nothing to do with air travel. France
is in the process of adding a stiff air ticket tax that will be used
to fund humanitarian programs in the Third World-a laudable goal,
perhaps, but clearly unrelated to travel. Other European governments
are looking at similar levies.

Optional extras

Many airlines have already unbundled meal service from the basic price
of the ticket, especially in economy class.

* You pay for a meal, brownbag, or you don't eat.
* Many have added their own charge for curbside baggage
check-in-in addition to the tip most travelers have given skycaps.
* Many lines have charged for inflight movies and alcoholic
beverages for some time.
* Most already charge extra for phone or airport-counter
reservations and ticketing.
* It's a foregone conclusion that travelers will pay for the
onboard wireless Internet service that's on almost every traveler's
wish list.

You can glean some ideas of the future from recent initiatives here
and overseas.

* American Eagle is already experimenting with a charge for the
usually-free soft drinks, coffee, or tea.
* Several low-fare lines overseas are charging for each piece of
checked baggage-no more "free" baggage allowance.
* Air Canada charges extra for a "comfort" package of a blanket
plus an inflatable pillow.
* Some European charter lines already charge extra for the
extra-legroom exit-row and bulkhead seat assignments; some charge
extra for any advanced seat assignment at all.
* Some writers have speculated that airlines might soon charge
extra for the preferred aisle and window seats.

Continued...

Next Page
Pages: 1 | 2

http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/...9&u=SL4F6B4DC5

===
"Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt,
Dance like nobody's watching..."
-- Richard Leigh
_________________________________________
Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server
More than 140,000 groups
Unlimited download
http://www.usenetzone.com to open account