Just when you thought commercial carriers couldn’t possibly penalize your pocketbook any more with their exorbitant baggage fees, Spirit Airlines just announced it plans to charge passengers $100 for carry-ons. Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid being hit with this outrageous fee. Beginning November 6th, Spirit will slap passengers with the 100-buck fee if they wait until they get to the boarding gate to pay. If you fly the discount airline and pay before getting to the airport, you will save a substantial amount of money. Here’s how you can avoid being hit with the sky-high baggage surcharge: Option … Continue reading →

Stupid airline fees. Or, stupid you for paying them? According to the CEO of a popular no-frills airline, passengers shouldn’t complain about having to fork over fees for certain services because in most cases the payment could be avoided if they weren’t so “stupid.” Last month, the outspoken CEO of European discount carrier Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, called a female passenger “stupid” after she took to social media complaining about a hefty fee charge. In August, Suzy McLeod of Berkshire, England, was charged 300 euro (roughly $400) for failing to print her family’s boarding passes prior to their flight from Alicante, … Continue reading →

Just when you thought commercial airlines couldn’t suck you dry any more than they already do, several carriers are making headlines for the astronomical fees they charge for severely overweight checked bags. American Airlines reports that it charges passengers a whopping $450 for a bag weighing 71-100 pounds on its Asian flights. Meanwhile, United and Continental Airlines charge $400 for bags that weigh 71 to 99.9 pounds on international flights. According to a USA TODAY survey, those are the most expensive fees that airlines charge flyers these days. I am stunned by the numbers, but at the same time, I … Continue reading →

When trying to score a cheap seat on a commercial airliner, timing is everything. If you are looking to travel to your favorite vacation destination, now is the time to fly. January and February typically see the fewest number of flyers. So as an incentive to frugal travelers, a number of airlines are offering fabulous fare sales to fill empty seats. AirTran and Southwest were among the first of the major carriers to launch widespread sales. The discount airlines have slashed fares for flights through mid-February. Savings are as much as 50 percent lower than holiday and summer ticket prices. … Continue reading →

I can’t remember the last time I was offered a bag of peanuts on a major commercial carrier, but apparently, that just shows that I don’t fly Southwest Airlines or Delta very often. The two domestic airlines, which continue to ladle out legumes, are at the center of a peanut controversy of sorts. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), one of the biggest complaints they receive from airline passengers is about peanuts on planes. In a new report just released by the DOT, the No. 1 suggestion from travelers on ways to enhance airline passenger protections is to … Continue reading →