American Airlines and United Airlines added a $10 surcharge to most fares on the Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday and some dates after New Year’s, research firm said.
The fees apply to the “vast majority” of tickets for Nov. 29 and Jan. 2 and 3, Graeme Wallace of travel-research firm said in an e-mail. They aren’t retroactive, according to American, which moved first to impose the fees. US Airways Group Inc. also matched the surcharge.
“Passengers already pay more to fly on certain days,” Wallace said. Airlines “have now upped the ante by determining that certain peak travel days are worth an additional passenger-paid premium.”
The surcharge differs from fees imposed for services such as checking bags, because it isn’t optional, said Jay Sorensen, president of consultant IdeaWorks and a former airline marketing executive. A surcharge is easier for U.S. carriers to adopt than a fare increase when only a few dates are involved.
Airlines are under pressure to find additional revenue as the recession crimps business travel and spurs fare discounts to help attract leisure passengers. The U.S. industry has raised prices three times in 2009, after 15 increases in 2008 and 17 a year earlier, according to Dallas- based .
“Last year, procrastinators were rewarded with lower fares during the holiday period, but I do not expect that to happen this year,” said Rick Seaney, FareCompare’s chief executive.
Continental Airlines, the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, hadn’t matched the increase, spokeswoman Julie King said.
Atlanta-based Delta is the world’s biggest airline, followed by American and Chicago-based United. Discounter Southwest Airlines Co. is the fifth-largest carrier, and typically doesn’t follow industry fare moves. Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways is No. 6.
