Whether you book your next airline ticket directly with an airline, or use one of the popular travel-related services, like Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com or Kayak.com, before booking that often non-refundable ticket, determine what extra fees you'll be responsible for and calculate them into your travel budget to avoid unwanted surprises.To determine what's included with your coach, business or first class airline ticket, contact your airline directly, or visit its website.
Some of the most common airline-related fees that many travelers forget to consider include:
* Baggage Check Fees - Most airlines allow one (1) free checked bag and then charge up to $25.00 for each additional bag. Some airlines, however, now charge $15.00 or $25.00 for each bag that's checked (including the first bag). Carry-ons continue to be free.
* Overweight Bag Fees - If your checked suitcase weights more than 50 pounds, you'll be hit with an "overweight" baggage fee of $50.00 or $75.00, depending on the airline. The airlines will actually add this fee if your bag weighs in at 51 or 52 pounds, so pack accordingly.
* Telephone Booking Fees - A fee up to $20.00 per ticket will be charged for calling an airline's toll-free phone number to book your ticket(s).
* Preferred Seating Fee - A few airlines have begin charging for a few inches of extra legroom, as well as window or isle seats in the coach cabin.
* Pillows, Blankets and Entertainment Charges - Want to take a nap, stay warm or watch a movie during your flight? Some airlines now charge $5.00 or more for each of these added amenities. My recommendation: Load up your Apple iPod, iTouch, iPhone or laptop computer with a handful of TV show episodes or movies you download from iTunes, and then watch what you want during the flight.
* Snacks, Drinks and Meals - What used to be offered free of charge during a flight now comes with a fee. Most airlines still offer free non-alcoholic drinks, but almost all now charge for snacks and meals. If you want edible and affordable food during your flight, your best bet is to bring your own.
* In-Flight Internet Service - A few airlines have begin offering in-flight Internet access via Wi-Fi. If you want to access the Web using your laptop computer or wireless PDA device, it'll cost you up to $15.00 per flight.
* Traveling with Your Small Dog - Some airlines welcome small dogs as travel companions, but they'll need to stay in their carrier and kept under your seat. The fee to travel with your small dog in the airline's cabin will be between $50.00 and $100.00 each way. Separate fees apply if you'll be traveling with a larger dog that needs to be "checked" in the plane's cargo hold (which is NOT something I recommend for the dog's safety and well-being).
Once you add up some or all of these fees, expect to pay an extra $25.00 to $100.00 per person (each way) before and during your next flight. Keep in mind, not all airlines accept credit cards during a flight, so bring cash to purchase in-flight snacks and services.
When choosing which airline to fly with, if there's a chance you'll need to cancel or change your flight(s) once they've been booked and paid for, pay careful attention to the airline's cancellation, change and rebooking fees and policies. The majority of the major airlines charge a $150.00 change fee, plus the fare difference between your old ticket and the cost of the new flight.
These days, there are some incredible airfare bargains to be found, especially if you use the web to book your travel. However, don't forget to calculate in all of the extra fees and charges you may be responsible for.
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