Airlines Fee Revenue Up 42% in 2009 by:Steve Robinson
Little seems to threaten cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages as much
as fees that travelers do not necessarily take into account prior to purchasing travel. Airline's collected $7.8 billion in fees last year. When you consider that the airline industry faced global losses of between $9 to $11 billion in '09, it is easy to see how important ancillary fee income has become to the airlines.U.S. airlines expect to earn an additional $4 billion in fees this year from new baggage fees. Seat sales fell 22 percent in the third quarter of '09, while luggage fees doubled.
The largest portion of airline fee income was generated by checked luggage. Other airline fees include reservation changes, purchasing tickets over the phone, selecting seats that offer additional legroom, early boarding, and flying standby.
Delta, currently the world's largest airline, at least until the merger to United and Continental Airlines, collected $1.65 billion in fees, top among U.S. carriers. American came in second in fee income with US Airways third, which says something about US Airways fees since two other airlines (United and Continental) are larger than US Airways.
As to what we can expect going forward, the only sure bet is that airlines will become increasingly creative in adding new fees and/or raising old fees.
Elite frequent fliers and passengers flying first or business class are among the lucky few that usually do not have to pay luggage fees.
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Cheapfares employees enjoy sharing the current news and information about travel news and tips to improve their clients travel experience. We have been in the travel industry over 10 years online. Austin's Climate by:Joe Cline Some Popular Tourist Places of India The World's 10 Most Haunted Hotels pt 3. by:Jonathan Meier Explores The Beauty Of The World By Travelling Solo by:Jane Thomas Cheap Family Holidays: Makes Family Holidays Full Of Fun by:Marvin Decocts Three Places You Must See While Studying in Australia by:Ralph Gray I Love Touring Rome, Italy - Hotels In The Saint John In Laterno District by:Levi Reiss How Will You Choose the Best Rentals in Rocky Point Mexico by:Scott Jalowsky Time to Develop "Plan B" by:Steve Robinson The best way to Discover and Converse American English tongue Fluently? A Visitor's Guide To Ringwood, New Forest by:Nick Currer A Once In A Lifetime Experience With Gold Coast Holidays by:Ashraf Kamha How To Save On Your Holiday? by:Jane Thomas