Airline fees can add a lot of money to the price of a trip. Business travelers can quickly add hundreds of dollars in reservation changes and meal service, but families can also rack up luggage fees, pet service, and even blanket and pillow fees. However, exactly how much money is being collected by the airlines' new best friend is something of a mystery.
Currently, the only two fees that get reported separately are baggage fees with $3.4 billion in 2010 and reservation changes $2.3 billion last year. The rest of the money collected via fees does not have to be reported separate from other revenue, and the Department of Transportation wants to change that.
The DOT has proposed a rule to find exactly how much money is being collected and from what services. While a breakdown in statistics would be helpful to any airline watcher, there is little doubt that fees and fuel surcharges have helped keep many airlines afloat. Many websites even feature tables so that potential passengers can determine how much money will be spent on ancillary services prior to booking a ticket.
One of the biggest culprits is the cost of flying, besides fees, is the price of fuel. There is a reason why American Airlines replaced 19,000 drink carts with units that were 12 pounds lighter: less weight means better fuel mileage. Of course, airlines are also aware that their aging fleets can be replaced with planes that get better mileage. Aircraft being purchased today can get almost 20 percent better fuel efficiency than planes that are ten years old. Better mileage means higher profits.
So while passengers are shelling out extra cash for everything from Wi-Fi to pillows and blankets, they could actually be rewarded in the long run with better, safer, and faster aircraft. Sure nobody wants to add $250 to a family vacation or business trip in luggage fees or meal fees, but knowing that the money being spent actually has the potential to make future trips better or cheaper should count for something.
Airline fees are here to stay that much is clear. If the DOT gets their way and exact numbers are released, passengers might be a bit surprised by the totals. Of course, anyone who has spent time on an aircraft in the last few years will probably not be shocked.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional and long-time Pennsylvania resident. These experiences give him a first-hand look at developing situations in the state and everything included in the travel industry from technology to trends.
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