The future of airline fees: What you're likely to pay more for

They prefer the terms "ancillary revenue" and "unbundling the product," of course. The fact that airlines do not reduce ticket prices when introducing these extra charges simply masks the fact that the cost to fly is increasing at an alarming rate. Airlines like these fees since they are an easy way to increase prices without adding to the basic ticket price.

NOTHING is given away for free on a commercial airliner. Just because there's no separate fee for it does not mean you aren't paying for it.

For what are you likely to pay more? In short, anyghing, everything, and even nothing at all will be charged for. Just wait, there will be a fee for assessing the fees soon.

I will never, never fly Spirit Airlines. I realize airlines have to make a profit-if they didn't they couldn't stay in business and provide their service, but to stack fee upon fee for the service as Spirit does is insulting and makes me feel more a wallet to be drained than a valued customer. I don't see how they could possibly have decent customer service; if you didn't get something then it's probably because you didn't pay for it. I haven't needed tp fly anywhere for a while but if I do need to go somewhere and can drive, I'll be getting there behind the wheel. Spirit Airlines, and any other airline that follows their model, will never get a single dollar of my money.

Not that the airline pricing structure has ever had any connection to logic, but the concept of "giving away" the prime overhead space and charging for bags in the cargo hold seems to make sense from an operators perspective. We've all seen passengers with oversized carry-on bags holding up the boarding process while they struggle to jam it in to an overhead compartment 10% smaller than the bag. When considering the time it takes to load and unload an aircraft, the carry-on impact may add up to be a huge financial penalty to the airline. If 10 minutes per leg was saved, imagine the fleet impact it could have. While personally not looking forward to the prospect of paying to carry-on a computer bag I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world. Perhaps elite status with an airline would waive the fee?

Again Bernie, you are right on it. If my airline of choice, Southwest, starts charging for bags and carry on bags, my F-150 will get a lot more exercise.