MINNEAPOLIS — As if charging $15 to check a bag isn’t enough, two airlines are asking for $5 more beginning this summer if you pay at the check-in counter — a fee on top of a fee.
Of course, you could always pay your baggage fee from home. The airlines call it the “online discount.” If airlines can get away with that, what’s next? Rather than raise fares in the middle of a recession, they’re piling on fees to make money — fees for bags, fees to get through the line faster, even fees for certain seats.
United Airlines alone expects to rake in more than $1 billion this year in fees ranging from baggage to accelerated frequent-flier awards. That’s more than 5 percent of its revenue.
Fees usually originate with one or two airlines, and competitors watch to see whether passengers accept them or revolt.
For instance: US Airways and United are hitting passengers up for $5 to pay their baggage fees at the airport instead of online. United implemented the fee June 10. US Airways will put it into effect July 9.
• If you want an exit-row seat on AirTran and enjoy the extra legroom, expect to cough up $20.
• Allegiant Air, a smaller national discount airline, charges a $13.50 “convenience fee” for online purchases, even though most other carriers encourage purchases direct from their website.
• European discounter Ryanair charges for something everyone has to do if they want to fly: check in. It’s 5 euros, or about $6.75, to check in online, double for passengers who pay at the airport.
