Fees make airline deals hard to find
WASHINGTON — Finding the best deal on a flight has become a lot more difficult, thanks to hefty baggage and service fees that consumers often don't know about until they show up at the airline counter, congressional investigators say.
Those fees are not part of the ticket price, meaning they can easily go unseen until it's too late for the consumer to shop around. Airlines, travel agents, online travel services and other ticket distribution channels should be required to disclose fees for checked baggage, changed reservations and other services in a clear and consistent manner, the Government Accountability Office said in a report out Wednesday.
Since 2007, many airlines have been charging for services that were traditionally included in the price of a ticket. That's improved airline bottom lines in a tough economy but raised the ire of travelers who find themselves nickeled-and-dimed to substantially higher costs.
Besides checked bags, some airlines charge fees for seat selection, extra leg room, prime spots in boarding lines, blankets, pillows, drinks and meals.
Computer reservation systems used by travel agents and ticketing services are capable of providing clear information on fees that allows consumers to compare total trip prices. That hasn't happened because airlines won't supply the travel industry with fees, Kyle Moore, vice president of Sabre Holdings, which owns Travelocity, told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Ben Baldanza, president and CEO of low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, acknowledged that his airline doesn't provide ticketing services with fee information because he doesn't want to be at a competitive disadvantage with other airlines whose prices might appear lower because they exclude the extras.
American, Continental, Delta, US Airways and United all charge $25 for the first checked bag, and $35 for the second, according to the booking website Kayak. JetBlue charges $10 and up for additional legroom. AirTran charges $6 for passengers to get seat assignments in advance.
