5 Ridiculous Airline Charges
Ever since the airline industry went on high alert for security reasons, flying has become an increasingly less appealing option. With the recent economic slump, a whole new set of headaches is being added to the mix as carriers are finding more ways to boost profits to float them through the rough waters. Just as concert tickets have seen the addition of facility charges and the suspiciously vague “convenience tax,” travelers are now subject to a laundry list of fees. Here are just a few of the most ridiculous we could find.
Blanket & Pillow Charges
Once a time-honored tradition, and as expected as the tiny bars of soap in a hotel room, a blanket and pillow may now cost you. American Airlines currently charges $8 for coach passengers to be provided with a blanket and neck pillow. Sounds like their savings on heating could mirror their earnings on blankets.
Restroom Fees
Dublin, Ireland-based Ryanair is currently toying with the idea of charging for use of, believe it or not, the bathroom. In reality, they would be removing some of the lavatories off the plane to accommodate more seats, which, in turn, trickles down to higher occupancy and cheaper flights. Not to mention, this measure is only currently planned for their flights of less than one hour and is still on the drawing board. Pay toilets may be a common site in Europe, but turning bodily functions into a commodity could create for some angry, put-off customers. And cruising altitude doesn’t leave ANY daft behind-the-shrubs alternatives.
Baggage Fees
Airline baggage fees have, in recent years, taken on a life of their own. Many of the top carriers charge on average about $25 to check the first bag, with the second and third bags increasing costs exponentially. Perhaps most notorious for baggage fees is Spirit Airlines, the overlords of the air who had the audacity to charge for carry-ons. Most carriers defend these charges as ultimately cost-saving measures, or simply as a way to stay afloat in a down economy. Nonetheless, packing light nowadays pays off like never before.
Fat Tax
And speaking of packing light, it also pays off to pack it light in the waistline. Whether as a result of customer complaints or out of concern for passenger safety, many airlines are making it explicit: if you can’t fit, you can’t fly. Unless, of course, you buy another seat. This has the titans of the buffet mouthing off against the titans of the airline industry. Have the airlines shrunken seats to increase occupancy or are those extra pounds causing enough extra pains to justify the charges? Forbes magazine has reported that hundreds of millions of dollars are burnt in fuel costs to accommodate those who can’t burn off the extra calories.
Human Fees
While it may be a consequence of the modern age in general, airlines are also starting to consider human contact a premium service. Whether it’s speaking to someone on the phone or dealing with a person instead of a boarding-pass-dispensing-robot, you can expect the rates to rise. Many airlines like to tout these moves as environmentally friendly (e-tickets save paper) or as ways to pass savings down to their customers. Still, the more these cold kiosks take the place of human life forms, the more disconnect and disdain we’ll continue to feel toward air travel.
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Restroom fees!?! What are they going to charge for next, breathing?
American Airlines once tried to charge me for water. I will never fly on American again!
Ludicrous. Will we have to swipe our credit cards to get the oxygen masks to drop?
It’s getting really frustrating, especially with budget airlines selling tickets for next to nothing, yet then charge tax, baggage and a whole host of other charges. Flying isn’t fun any more.
Great post. The fees drive me nuts. I have started to take the time to drive now. I find that I actually don’t mind it, even if it takes a little while.
If you don’t like it, don’t fly. It’s a business, you can fly with a competitor, or drive, or walk. You have plenty of other options too.
“…What are they going to charge for next, breathing?” Maybe it will be a variable charge, depending on how much air you would like to consume in your own individual space.
I have never been a traveler who asked for anything, I always travel light (One bag plus a carry on) I have a bladder like a camel, and I can sleep on stone…I love the cheep fares!
I’m not sure the fat tax is such a ridiculous idea. Each seat is calculated to bring in a certain amount of revenue, and if you take up two seats then you should pay for two seats.
From a weight perspective, it’s even more compelling. Passengers are limited to 1 or 2 bags weighing 50 pounds each, which means a 150-lb. passenger carrying 2 bags weighs the airplane down by a total of 200 or 250 pounds. A 350-pound passenger would weigh the airplane down by a total of 400 or 450 pounds. Why should the heavier passenger get a larger total weight allowance?
@Bill lol@charging for breathing
I agree with bonggamom about the fat tax…If you are overweight, you should have to pay for 2 seats if you do NOT fit!! This being said by ME, a person who has had weight problems all my life but finally did something about it and have kept off my 80 pound weight loss for over 10 years! I still want to lose a little more!
The rest room fee is ridiculous! lol
Wow, that bathroom thing could really backfire! I don’t think they want angry patrons who have to go to the bathroom in their nice, plush seats.
Some of the fees I can vaguely understand from a business standpoint, but restroom fees have crossed the line WAY into ridiculous territory.
Like the last 2 posts, I think bathroom fees are so NOT cool. Its not like you have an alternative 3000 whatever in the air.
On the other hand considering that most airlines were not cleaning those blankets after each use, only cleaning them when they actually looked dirty, Eww! so gross! Just carry your own travel blanket and pillow, they are pretty compact these days.
Really??? A fee to use the restroom?!?! Airlines and their stupid fees have gotten out of control! Please remind me why we pay HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of dollars to fly in the first place… JUST for gas?? I think not! Some common sense amenities better be included!
I thought it was interesting that it costs extra money to fly people who are overweight!
Bathroom fees… really. I guess they are going to like cleaning their seats then.
Seriously can they really charge to use the bathroom?
Stop feeding me peanuts and I won’t need a fat tax!
Great tips to look out for saving money in the sky!
Loved this article…Found you from Fabulous Fun Finds!
I agree there should never be a charge to talk to a human -it’s outrageous!
Interesting about the human fees. How much money are they really saving?
The restroom fees crossed the line in my book, it’s COMPLETELY ridiculous.
Restroom fees are crazy!
Getting rid of human contact in customer service is a huge step in the wrong direction for any company’s public relations.
If they start charging bathroom fees, I don’t think I’ll ever fly again! LOL
Seriously crazy stuff
seriously a bathroom fee!?!?!?
Bathroom fees crack me up. Seriously. Do they offer unlimited free drinks to make you have to pee???
Wow! Charging for human contact? What happened to good old fashion customer service?
Bathroom fees, and fees for those pillows and blankets? THOSE pillows and blankets? Unbelieveable. Next they’ll have you swipe your credit card in order to recline your seat, or drop your service tray.
Restroom fees are VERY normal in Europe.
Considering the picture show 0,2 Euro, it kind-of makes sense. It may seem weird to Americans, but its common practice in the European area.
On an airplane–maybe a little too far though.
Wow! I can’t believe some of these fees!
THese fees are crazy to me.
We should charge the airlines for the disconfort of unsafe traveling, and high security risks. A much more realistic fee!!!
I flew Continental first class last year – they charged $1.00 for the cheap plastic ear-wrap headset. Then after paying – the steward (non-female) just tossed it towards me and to the other paying passengers. Mine ended up on the floor in front of me. He never even said oops.
Quality – pure quality.
Restroom fees…thats awful!!
What about charging $2.00 for a half glass of soda? And then you have to pay with a credit card. The whole thing is outrageous!
Hey, I am not too surprised about these fees. It’s a money thing for the airlines since the terrorists attacks and before.
I can understand that the airlines need to make money and even though I grumble about the baggage fees I believe they have made a lot of money from those charges. I would really hate it if all airlines took up the restroom fees. As for the blankets and pillows I read an article once about just how dirty and germ ridden they are so I would prefer not to use them.
I suppose if they crash we’ll be charged for the seat cushion flotation device. I’d rather they just upped the prices instead of this insanity.
At this point, air travel has gotten so unpleasant that they really should PAY US to fly with them!