United is ratcheting up stricter carry-on baggage rule enforcement, and the result is that more passengers will be hit with …
Fees
An Ultra-Cheap, Anti-Union Upstart Airline Could Transform Flying
Travelers have long desired low-cost flights connecting Europe and the U.S. One emerging European carrier is making this dream a reality—and a range of travel industry forces don’t like it one bit.
That $25 Checked Bag Service Only Costs Airlines $2
Airlines say that they must charge passengers baggage fees because more checked luggage means more costs incurred by the carrier. But how much extra jet fuel is burned due to luggage? Maybe $2 per bag tops.
Why Politicians Keep Jacking Up Taxes on Travelers
Politicians are addicted to taxes that they swear aren’t really taxes—not ones paid by locals anyway.
The Fee-Crazed Airline Travelers Love to Hate Keeps Piling Up Profits
How to Make Airline Tickets Less … Awful
A consumer group is calling for more reasonable airline ticket policies, including eliminating standby fees and allowing passengers to transfer unused tickets to other travelers — neither of which would cost airlines a dime. But don’t hold your breath waiting for airlines to suddenly start caring about being fair and reasonable.
Prepaid Debit Cards: A Few Good Ones to Consider — And Several to Avoid
Competition has helped drive down fees and increase transparency on prepaid debit cards, but new studies show that some cards still deliver little value for the cost.
Nickeled, Dimed, and Dollared to Death: Fee-Laden Payroll Cards Forced On Low-Wage Workers
A recent lawsuit and reports from regulators and consumer advocates suggest that some of the most abusive fees are being forced on those least able to protect themselves
Why Hotels Aren’t Making a Killing on Fees Like the Airlines
Love it or hate it, the fee-based business model appears to be here to stay for airlines. But the hotel business is a different story.
JetBlue Proves There’s a Reasonable Way to Hit Us With Fees
You know the drill: An airline hikes its fees, and within seconds travelers vent their outrage in response. JetBlue shows that it doesn’t have to be this way.
Why Banks Love Debit Cards Again
Debit cards were supposed to be toast. The industry started writing their obituary when financial reform targeted overdraft fees and interchange or “swipe” fees, which had made debit cards extremely lucrative for banks. So …
You’ll Never Guess What Banks Have Started Charging For Now
Banks are charging record-high fees for existing services such as account maintenance and overdrafts. But banks are also getting creative, rolling out services — and fees — that never existed before. For instance, at one bank, if you’re sick of waiting on hold to talk to a customer service rep, you can pay a fee to cut the line.