Our Vacation Adventures

Airlines to Charge for Amenities?

In an effort to make more money and/or cut more corners, airlines plan on charging for amenities like pillows, blankets and even on board snacks, meals and beverages.

Here is a list of charges that airlines plan to start:

• Paper ticket vs. e-ticket (domestic, $20-$30; international, $50)
• Telephone reservations by airline ($5-$10)
• Changing a seat once booked (low-cost carriers, $25-$50; traditional airlines, $50)
• Assigned seating ($10 per flight leg)
• Fees for exit row, bulkhead, or aisle/window seating ($15 trial this summer)
• Booking travel using frequent-flier award miles/points ($10-$50)
• Switching a ticket to standby status ($25-plus)
• Unaccompanied minor child ($40-plus each way)
• Overweight bags ($25-$50 for any bag over 50 lbs.)
• Extra bags ($40-$80 per bag beyond two checked per person)
• Curbside check-in of bags ($2-$3 per bag)
• Checked bags ($4-$7 per bag on international flights)
• Food on board flights ($5-$10 per meal)
• Soda ($1)
• Snacks ($1)
• Blankets ($1)
• Pillows ($1)
• Headsets ($1-$5)
• In-cabin pets (under seat, $50-$100 each way)

I can see the money adding up a dollar at a time. I can see some customers getting upset by these changes, they do seem like extra touches that make a flight more enjoyable. I know that we bought headsets for 5 bucks apiece to view the in-flight movie on Continental. (Now we’ll never need to buy them again) but if I had to “rent” the movie I’d skip it..

I wonder if water will still be free?