How To Avoid The Worst Airline Fees
When planning a trip, most of us focus on where to go, getting the cheapest tickets and the best deals on hotels. We may not also consider expensive airline fees and how to avoid them. Read on for simple strategies you can do to avoid the worst airline fees.
Change fees
This can be one of the heftiest fees of all, the change fee. Change fees can cost $200 for domestic tickets and $400 or more for internationals flights.
Here are 2 ways to avoid it:
- Review your ticket within 24 hours: U.S. airlines (and some international airlines) allow shoppers to change or cancel a ticket within 24 hours of purchase with no cancellation fee.
- Buy a refundable ticket: You won’t pay a change fee if your plans fall apart but this is not a good option for most of us because refundable tickets are very expensive.
Fees for food
With the except of small packs of peanuts, pretzels or maybe a cookie, there very few meals served in coach these days. Here’s what to do.
Bring your own lunch: It will be a lot cheaper and probably a lot tastier.
Bring an empty water bottle: More and more airports have water stations beyond security; veteran travelers have learned to fill up empty bottles after they get past the checkpoint.
Seat fees
The easiest thing to do is don’t pay for them because you will get a seat. You might have to settle for a middle seat. Try this instead.
Keep checking: After you make your reservation, check online to see if a better seat has opened up (a free seat); if not, keep checking each day but your best chance is usually during check-in which starts 24 hours before departure.
Check the kiosk, see the agent: If you still can’t find a better seat, see if anything is available through the airport kiosk, or ask a gate agent. No guarantees but you might get lucky.
Bag fees
businesswoman walking with luggage
Checked baggage fees start at $50 round-trip on many airlines. Using a free carry-on bag is the best way to go on many airlines. Check your airline’s policy on bags, or ask your travel team agent for information by calling 1-800-788-0829
Overweight bag fees
All airlines have weight limits for checked-bags and some have limits for carry-ons as well. Know how much your airline allows and weigh bags at home before you go to the airport because overweight fees can run into the hundreds of dollars.
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