Watch out for those hidden charges

There’s a vicious circle at work and, if you’re not careful, you can find what you thought was a cheap deal turning into an expensive deal. Over the last five years, the major US airlines have been struggling even though the economy was booming. They were into and out of bankruptcy. Now the economy has turned sour, their problems are even worse. So, even when you see cheap prices advertised, watch out. The airlines will try to collect the full price by charging for everything you thought was standard. Did you think you could choose where to sit, enjoy the use of a blanket or pillow, and eat the airline’s food without an additional charge? Think again! It doesn’t matter whether you go into a travel agency on Main Street or book online, your hard-earned dollars are at risk. Never sign up for a ticket just on the basis of the price. Always ask for a clear statement of what is included in the price. In most cases online, the majority of the charges will be listed but on a different page. That way, there’s no concealment. It’s just hard to find. You need to know how much the journey is going to cost you once you leave home.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) says it can be difficult to decide which charges relate to which tickets. For example, would you expect to pay to check in your luggage on all tickets or only some flights at peak times? This took off in May, 2008, when American Airlines introduced a charge to check in a single bag. Most airlines now make the charge on all flights. The Transportation Department criticized the airlines for failing to give adequate notice that the charge was being introduced. Many arrived at the airports with no idea they were expected to pay. The same applies to the use of blankets and pillows, and the fact that there is little or no complimentary food and drinks. The rule is that everyone should know the full price of the ticket before they buy. The airlines say the price of the ticket only covers sitting in the plane. This is “moving the goal posts”. Tickets are about more than getting into the plane. There’s a bundle of services we expect to go along with it.

There’s increasing pressure on airlines to be more transparent. Strangely, it’s giving travel agents a bad name. People tend to blame the agents, both real world and online, because they were not aware of the charges. ASTA squarely lays the blame at the airlines’ door. Agents can only pass on what they know. Note the Transportation Department’s criticized the airlines not the agents. So when you’re looking for those cheap airline tickets, remember these are the tickets most likely to be affected by hidden charges. Search the websites you find. Ask bricks-and-mortar agents for details of the charges in writing. Do whatever you can to ensure the cheap airline tickets stay cheap, or that you know exactly what the total bill is to be before you buy.