Thinking about booking your flights to Reunions soon? Good plan! How very proactive, Princetonian and patriotic of you. A friend recently told me that spending money is everyone's national civic duty, so here's your chance to party with old classmates and stimulate the economy in the process. However, let's not forget this is a budget blog. We certainly don't want you over-spending on that trip. After all, these times call for fiscal responsibility. So before you buy your tickets, make sure you follow these important steps.
Step 1: Communicate With Your Constituents
Translation ... change your Facebook status to "(your name) is booking a flight to Princeton Reunions." God knows we can't do anything these days without micro-blogging it. Plus, it will signal all your P'ton friends to get their travel on as well. (Did I just say get their travel on?)
Step 2: Seek Bipartisan Input
Translation ... don't just tap your usual travel resources. Cross the aisle and consult some new experts to help you find the best deal. (This is really just a self-serving plug for you to read this blog.)
Step 3: Avoid the Pork (ironically, the only meaty section of this post)
Translation ... don't let hidden airline fees turn your "deal" into a deficit. From checked baggage to extra leg room to speaking with a live human, these little extras are a big annoyance. Especially if you're not expecting them. So before you grudgingly book that red-eye flight to save $50, double check the fees. Your total cost may be the same with a carrier that offers a more sleep-friendly schedule ... and doesn't charge you for a pillow in the process.
For handy reference, we've included a comprehensive chart compiled by USA Today. It was published back in August, so we'll cross-check some of the info and post any corrections to this blog in the coming days. Even better, if any of you have more accurate info, go ahead and note that in the Comments section. (Just pretend this is a Wiki if that makes you feel more hip.)
Airlines' rising fees confuse and anger their passengers
USA Today 08.18.08
From booking to on-board snacking, rising airline fees add up
These charts shows fees that U.S. airlines commonly charge coach passengers on domestic flights. Fees may be different than shown, depending on an individual traveler's circumstances. For instance, ticket-change fees can vary depending on whether a ticket is changed online, through an airline's telephone-reservation system or through a travel agent. Preferred-seat charges may be higher on some routes or some types of planes, or may vary for different kinds of seats. Many airlines reduce or waive certain fees for very frequent fliers or for passengers who pay full coach fares. The information in these charts was up to date as of Friday, August 8.
RESERVATIONS | |||
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| Airline | Book ticket by phone | Preferred seat | Ticket change fee3 |
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| AirTran | $15 | $6-$20 | $75 |
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| Alaska | $15 | NA | $75-$100 |
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| American | $20 | NA | $150 |
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| Continental | $15 | NA | $150 |
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| Delta | $25 | NA | $100 |
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| Frontier | $25 | NA | $150 |
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| Hawaiian | $10 or $201 | NA | $150 or $200 |
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| JetBlue | $15 | $10-$30 | $100 |
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| Midwest | $25 | $25-$502 | $100 |
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| Northwest | $20 | $5-$35 | 1504 |
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| Southwest | 0 | $15-$20 | 0 |
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| Spirit | 0 | Up to several hundred dollars | $80-$90 |
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| United | $25 | $14-$149 | $150 |
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| US Airways | $25 | $5-$25 | $150 |
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| Virgin America | $10 | $50-$100 | $75 |
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| 1 — Begins in September; 2 — On Boeing 717s that begin flying this fall; $65 on McDonnell Douglas MD-80s that will cease flying Sept. 8; 3 — Ticket bought from a travel agent may have different fee; 4 — Some routes may have smaller fee | |||
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FREQUENT FLIERS | ||||
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| Airline | Book free frequent-flier ticket on phone1 | Book free frequent-flier ticket on-line1 | Change free frequent-flier ticket | Fee for buying frequent-flier miles/credits |
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| AirTran | 0 | 0 | $75 | $39/credit |
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| Alaska | $15 | 0 | $100 | $27.50/1,000 miles; $275/10,000 miles |
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| American | $20 | $5 | $150 | $27.50/1,000 miles; $250/10,000 miles |
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| Continental | $25 | 0 | $150 | $32/1,000 miles; $320/10,000 miles |
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| Delta | $25 | 0 | $100 | $55/2,000 miles; $275/10,000 miles |
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| Frontier | $25 | 0 | $35 | $28/1,000 miles; $250/10,000 miles |
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| Hawaiian | $10-$20 | 0 | $30 -$150 | $32.25/$1,000 miles; $322.50/10,000 miles |
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| JetBlue | $15 | 0 | $100 | $5/point |
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| Midwest | $25 | 0 | $50 | $29.38/1,000 miles; $293.75/10,000 miles |
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| Northwest | $25 | $25 | $50 | $28/1,000 miles; $280/10,000 miles |
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| Southwest | 0 | 0 | 0 | Not for sale |
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| Spirit | Can't book on phone | 0 | $80-$90 | Not for sale |
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| United | $25 | 0 | $150 | $67.25/1,000 miles; $357.50/10,000 miles |
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| US Airways | $55 ($80 Hawaii) | $30 | $150 ($250 Hawaii) | $50/1,000 miles; $275/10,000 miles |
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| Virgin America | $10 | 0 | $75 | Not for sale until 2009 |
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| 1 — A fee may apply or could be higher if booking is made close to departure | ||||
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IN THE AIRPORT | |||||
| Airline | Check bag at curbside | First checked bag | Second checked bag | Third checked bag | Annual fee for airport club lounge membership3 |
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| AirTran | 0 | 0 | $252 | $50 | No lounges |
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| Alaska | No curb service | 0 | $25 | $100 | $375 new member; $275 renewal |
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| American | 0 | $15 | $25 | $100 | $450 new member; $400 renewal |
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| Continental | 0 | 0 | $25 | $100 | $450 new member; $400 renewal |
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| Delta | $3 | 0 | $50 | $125 | $450 new member; $400 renewal |
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| Frontier | 0 | 0 | $25 | $50 | No lounges |
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| Hawaiian | No curb service | 0-$151 | $17-$25 | $25-$100 | $150 |
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| JetBlue | $2 | 0 | $20 | $75 | No lounges |
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| Midwest | 0 | 0 | $20 | $100 | $250 |
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| Northwest | $2 at 19 airports; no fee at others | $15 | $25 | $100 | $450 new member; $400 renewal |
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| Southwest | 0 | 0 | 0 | $25 | No lounges |
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| Spirit | No curb service | $15-$25 | $25 | $100 | No lounges |
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| United | $2 | $15 | $25 | $125 | $500 |
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| US Airways | $15 | $15 | $25 | $100 | $390 |
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| Virgin America | No curb service | 0 | $25 | $25 | $40 for access to one lounge |
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| 1 — Begins in September; 2 — Effective Sept. 18; $10/$20 until then; 3 — Lower fee may apply for very frequent fliers | |||||
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IN-FLIGHT SERVICES | |||||||
| Airline | Headset | Non-alcoholic beverage | Alcoholic beverage | Snack | Meal | Unaccompanied minor age 5-7 | Pet aboard flight |
| AirTran | 0 | 0 | $6 | 0 | No meals | $39 | $69 |
| Alaska | $5-$10 | 0 | $5 | 0-$5 | $5 | $75 | $100 |
| American | $2 | 0 | $6 | $2-$4 | $6 | $100 | $100 |
| Continental | $1 | 0 | $5 | 0 | 0 | $75 | $125 |
| Delta | $3 | 0 | $7 | 0-$3 | $4-$10 | $100 | $150 |
| Frontier | 0 | 0-$3 | $6 | $3 | $6-$7 | $50 | No pets allowed |
| Hawaiian | $5 | 0 | $6 | 0-$51 | 0 | $35-$75 | $35-$175 |
| JetBlue | $1 | 0-$3 | $5 | 0 | No meals | $75 | $75 |
| Midwest | No headsets | 0 | $5 | 0 | $6-$11 | $50 | $100 |
| Northwest | $3 | 0 | $5 | $3-$7 | $10 | $75 | $80 |
| Southwest | No headsets | 0 | $4 | 0 | No meals | 0 | No pets allowed |
| Spirit | No headsets | $2-$3 | $5-$7 | $2-$4 | No meals | $75 | $85 |
| United | 0 | 0 | $6 | No fee (testing $3 snack on some routes) | $5-$7 | $99 | $1252 |
| US Airways | $5 | $1-$2 | $7 | $5 | $7 | $100 | $100 |
| Virgin America | 0 | 0 | $5-$6 | $2-$3 | $7-$9 | $75 | $100 |
| 1— $15 fee begins Oct. 1 on mainland U.S.-Hawaii flights; 2— $100 until Aug. 18 | |||||||
| Sources: Airlines, USA TODAY research by Gary Stoller | |||||||
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