We travel to have happy experiences, to connect with other cultures, to broaden our horizons – ultimately making the world a better place.
It’s a shame that the industry that directly controls this experience for us makes it a difficult, unrewarding and frustrating process.
Of late, there has been some pressure to make this process, if not easier, at least a bit more open. The Department of Transportation recently proposed that airlines start reporting how much they are profiting from the ever-increasing number of fees added to the cost of travel beyond the ticket price. You know… pillows and blankets, bulkhead seats, change fees, baggage fees, etc.
While this disclosure won’t make the fees go away and may not affect what the airlines charge, it could help you make better choices when booking.
Case in point
Earlier this year I booked a flight from Seattle to Papua New Guinea via Australia. I will be flying (next week) from Los Angeles to Brisbane on Qantas. My travel agent booked the flight and requested window seats for me. I was assigned a window on one leg but an aisle on the other leg, despite there being plenty of window seats available. In order to change this (post-booking) to a window, I had to pay $20.
At first outraged and conflicted about ponying up this relatively minor amount so that I could actually sleep on the flight (who can sleep in an aisle seat?), I eventually caved and forked over the Aussie dollars to ensure my preference.
* As a side note, Qantas is also very strict about their carry-on luggage policy. Despite me having a 22″ carry on bag that would have easily fit in the overhead bin, I was forced to check it on this same route last year because carry-on bags are limited to 15 pounds. Given that even the lightest of 22″ carry-on bags weigh between 7 and 8 pounds, this is obviously meant to force people to only carry a daybag, camera or laptop.
Yeah, pretty brilliant for Qantas on that seat change charge. But this fee is complete nonsense to me and makes me angry as a customer – having to pay for my seat choice (it’s not like I was requesting an upgrade or a bulkhead) simply because an aisle was automatically assigned to me when the booking was initially made.
So, whadya gonna do?
Next time I book this route I will definitely consider other airlines over Qantas (but I’ll read the airlines’ policies extensively AND ask my agent to call the airline when booking to ensure a window).
Second, if Qantas is truly the best option for this route (price and availability-wise), I will personally (or have my travel agent) micro manage the booking by calling the airline to ensure that if there are window seats available, that I’m assigned one at the time of booking. That’s a lot of work for $20 but I’ll be happier if they don’t get my extra money.
Money talks
If enough of us quietly fight back on these fees by making airline choices based on who isn’t nickle and diming us and also doing what we can to avoid these fees (carrying our own pillows and blankets, calling airlines for seating options at the time of purchase, etc.), perhaps the airlines will get the hint that better customer service will create loyalty among us frequent travelers.
Which fees get your goat? And how can you make your travels happier?
Travel Well!
Beth
Related links:
Why We Travel
Opting out of Fully Body Scanners
Best Destinations for Solo Women Travelers
Photo credit:
Baggage: _tar0_
Henry Williams says
Airline fees are so ridiculous nowadays maybe soon they might start charging for cabin oxygen
Kent @ No Vacation Required says
Paying for seats is a joke. That’s why – now that we have “elite” statues — we hate the thought of losing it. Elite status provides the treatment that ALL passengers should be entitled to.
Beth Whitman says
I know. It killed me to fork over even the $20 for that window seat but I figured a good sleep was well worth twenty bucks on a 13 hour flight.
I don’t even care about the free alcohol or extras – I just wish we (in coach) were treated with the same calm respect that 1st class receives. But most airlines (save Virgin) treat 20% of their clients (the elite) like royalty and the rest like, well, poop.
Good for you guys racking up those points for your elite status. I lost mine in the NW/Delta merger…
The Travel Chica says
I think the luggage excess weight fee is ridiculous. At 5’2″ I am taking up less weight than a 6′ tall obese man. I should be able to bring more luggage to make up for this.
If you are going to have a weight limit and charge for overages because of the extra fuel burned, make the weight limit inclusive of the person’s weight.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista says
The airlines are not our friends and they remind us of that each and every day! Maybe if they ran their businesses better they wouldn’t need to nickle and dime their customers.
Sophie says
I don’t know much about airline fees in the USA, but here in Europe people complain as well. I don’t necessarily think this system is all bad. You pay for what you use and it’s a way to specify costs. If you only have a carry-on, don’t care where you sit (not talking about long trans-Pacific flights, obviously 🙂 ), and check in online, flights can be ridiculously cheap – and you don’t pay for services you don’t use. If, on the other hand, you want to check in a bag or two, have extra heavy carry-on, want priority check-in, food on board, etc – then it’s often better to use a non-budget airline that charges one price, without specifying the elements in the form of fees.
Sailor says
These days it is so difficult to find an airline which does not have any extra hidden charges!
Shirlene from Idelish says
There’s an opportunity here that no airline seem to get. While everyone’s nickle and diming passengers, they have the chance to stand out by NOT doing the same. Instead, every airline seems to be “joining the club” and charging fees left and right. I recently heard that some airline is now charging to print boarding passes. It’s free if you print it at home, yourself! I think that’s just ridiculous.
If one finds an airline that thinks “out of the box” and prioritizes customer service, we should praise them and spread the word. Hopefully, over time, other airlines can see that customers DO have a choice and a voice!
Vera Marie Badertscher says
My objection to the luggage fees is that more people are carrying more carry-on luggage, overloading the luggage bins inside the plane and changing the weight balance. Actually, I don’t mind policing the size of carry ons, because I get really sick of seeing enormous cases squeezed into the overhead compartments.
Ayngelina says
I never use a travel agent so I’m always hoping for the best that I won’t be surprised by any extra fees.