Planning a long trip to Europe this summer? Then prepare to pack light — or pay up. United Airlines has hiked its fee for a second checked bag on international flights to triple-digits.
airlines
Self-Serve Revolution: How Touchscreens Are Replacing Human Customer Service
Back in the day, screens allowed you to do one thing: Sit down with popcorn and watch Blade Runner. Today, they can do things that even go beyond what last generation’s science fiction could imagine. Those old sci-fi writers did …
Hey Airlines, Do You Really Want to Split Families Up on Planes?
In a purely business sense, it’s easy to understand why airlines are more or less forcing passengers to pay fees for seat reservations on planes: more fees equal more profits. But the scheme is hated by families — and is likely …
Uh-Oh! Fee-Crazed Airlines Are the Most Profitable
Apparently, plenty of travelers aren’t turned off by airlines that charge extra for everything from paying for flights with a credit card to $3 bottles of water on board the plane. Lately, the most profitable carriers in the U.S. …
U.S. Airlines ‘Only’ Collected $3.36 Billion in Baggage Fees Last Year
Airline passengers in the U.S. collectively paid $3.36 billion in fees for carry-on and checked bags last year. The figure actually represents a decrease from 2010, when we dropped $3.4 billion on baggage fees. Chances are, you …
Delta Appeared to Overcharge Frequent Flyers for Weeks – Was That Legal?
If you’re a Delta frequent flyer, you may have been paying more on the company’s airfares than those who have not officially declared their loyalty to the airline.
The $250,000 Airline Pass That Was Worth Every Penny
In the early 1980s, American Airlines started selling the AAirpass, which granted the holder unlimited first-class travel with the carrier—for life. At first, the pass cost $250,000. Sounds like a lot of money (especially three …
See That Flight Price? Add $103 to It
Airline fees and a la carte pricing for flights may be highly annoying to passengers, but it’s also proving to be a highly profitable business model. Spirit Airlines, the “low-cost” carrier at the forefront of fees—since 2010, …
Airlines’ Same Old Story: More Fees, Higher Fares, Fewer Perks, Tougher Restrictions
Last summer, travelers griped about the onslaught of airlines fees—for early boarding, seat assignments, checked and carry-on baggage, and on and on—that could easily wind up adding 50% to the price of a flight. The summer …
Will High Gas Prices Bring On Another Summer of the ‘Staycation’?
Record-high gas prices have already hit certain parts of the country. The national average is creeping closer and closer to $4 per gallon, with steady increases expected for the months ahead. Soaring fuel costs and consolidation …
American Airlines Offering More Legroom … For a Price
The airline will soon roll out Main Cabin Extra, which will give flyers the option of paying more money for a bit more legroom. But are you really going to pay upwards of $100 for mere inches on a plane?
Summer Bummer: High Gas Prices Mean More Expensive Airfares
The skyrocketing price of gas has everyone complaining when they go for a fill-up, but this pain at the pump also threatens to put a serious crimp in Americans’ summer vacation plans. Some major airlines are already raising their …
