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| Photo by O. Palsson |
As with anything in life, if something is too good to be true, it probably is. This can be the case when you see a flight for just $15. This should raise some major red flags as airlines cannot stay in business by just giving away plane tickets to all customers at these rates. What these airlines are banking on is that you as a consumer did not read the fine print and see all the additional fees that can be incurred for the simplest tasks.
The more obvious one that is apparent for most airlines nowadays is the baggage fee. For some it is just checked baggage, while others are hitting people up for carry on luggage or for checking carry on luggage once it is deemed to be too large. Some not so obvious fees include booking tickets by phone or at the airport rather than online. It is also not uncommon for some deep discount flights to charge you for the seat that you will be sitting in. I thought that was the point of purchasing a ticket in the first place. I guess there is always the wing!
Other key areas to be wary of are where you are supposed to check in. In some cases if you check in at the airport rather than printing your boarding passes in advance, you could be hit with a fee. You may also find some of these border line tactics such as charging fees for using a credit card, seat selection, or priority boarding. You also have to always figure in tax as Uncle Sam will want his take on the action. This can include regional airport fees, safety fees, and many other taxes that you may have never heard of depending on where the airport is located.
When is all is said and done you may have saved a buck or two, but don't expect your love at first site to last when everything starts adding up. Another key aspect to consider is your final destination. Some discount fliers will drop you off at an out of the way Airport as opposed to the main city airport, that is closer to the city center or simply more convenient. These airports tend to charge less to the carrier to utilize their services, but your taxi fee to get to your final destination may just eat up those wee bit of savings that you have left.
It is obvious that many of these airlines are major legitimate business and their practices in regards to pricing may be suspect. However, it is always important to consider all the associated costs before giving your credit card information. It doesn't hurt to give them a call to verify all fees. However, that may end up costing a fee!
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