The Travel Tab
New Restrictions Plus Fees Add Up To Frustration

By Keith L. Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 16, 2006

S o if you're hoping to redeem your frequent-flier miles for a free airline ticket to Disney World or Los Angeles this summer, it may be difficult. Some airlines are already telling customers they don't have any available "award" seats to those destinations until 2007.

If you want to snuggle with a pillow or blanket on your flight, you can. But you may have to pay a little extra for that comfort.

And if you rent a car while on vacation, make sure you plan to drive more than 75 miles, otherwise you may be charged a $9.50 fee.

This is the new world of travel -- restrictions, fees and, for many travelers, frustrations.

In recent years, the travel industry seems to have transformed itself into a world of extra fees. The days of paying one price for a flight, hotel room and a rental car seem to be quickly passing. Instead, in an effort to boost their revenue and cover costs, airlines, hotels and car-rental companies have adopted the banking industry's a la carte model of charging for every part of every transaction.

As you prepare for summer travel, know that you are not alone. About 147 million passengers will be flying domestically and internationally this year, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates. That compares with about 139 million last year. Here then are a few recent industry updates and trends -- not only about fees, but also about logistics -- that can help reduce travel-related stress before you even leave the house.

Planning

If you book a flight yourself, keep in mind that many major airlines charge anywhere from $10 to $15 if you call their toll-free reservation number or if you go to the airport and purchase your ticket from an agent. The airlines -- particularly legacy carriers such as American, United, Delta and US Airways -- encourage travelers to book flights on their Web sites to help reduce labor and ticket-processing costs.

Some travelers object to the airline's booking fee policy. Retired furniture salesman and frequent flier Henry Pabian calls it "unethical." "There are some people who don't have access to a computer. It's unfair to penalize them. That's not equal access," says Pabian of Canton, Ohio. "Sure, you want lower transportation prices, but how much do you trade off?"

It's not only the airlines charging you just to make a reservation. Because the carriers no longer pay commissions to travel agents, most travel agencies charge between $20 and $50 to process a round-trip ticket. "The consumer now takes on the added expense for the services rendered," says Richard Copeland, immediate past president of the American Society of Travel Agents.

Frequent-Flier Miles

Domestic carriers are flying fewer flights within the United States and are using smaller planes to temper high fuel prices. This summer, the airlines are expected to cut their domestic capacity on average by about 2.6 percent, according to the Air Transport Association, the Washington group that represents the nation's largest airlines. That reduction means that a 120-seat aircraft that was already nearly sold out last summer would fill up three more seats this summer. That translates into fewer seats even for some of the airline's best customers.

Airlines don't reveal how many seats they make available as part of frequent-flier redemptions. That's one of the biggest gripes among frequent fliers because it means there is no way to compare the carriers and their redemption process.

With the aircraft seat reduction, frequent-flier experts are already hearing from travelers who are finding it difficult to nab seats to popular destinations.

Some airlines are finding seats for their loyal customers, but many require that the fliers double the amount of miles they redeem to get the seat. To get around the difficulty of finding free trips, Tim Winship, publisher of Frequentflier.com, recommends searching for trips outside the United States. That's because while many airlines have cut back on the number of flights domestically, they have expanded the number of often more expensive international flights. Winship also recommends looking at alternative airports -- for instance, Chicago's Midway International Airport rather than O'Hare International. He also suggests off-peak travel times, such as midafternoon flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Boarding Passes

Technology has made some parts of flying more convenient. Most airlines allow passengers to print their boarding passes from their computers 24 hours before their departure. Also, in addition to picking up a boarding pass at the airport ticket counter, many airlines also enable travelers to print their boarding passes from kiosks in airport terminals or some hotel lobbies. Travelers flying internationally, those who require additional security screening or those who have special needs have to check in at the ticket counter, depending on the airline.

Checking Bags

Several airlines -- including United, American and Northwest -- are charging customers $2 to check their luggage at the curb outside the terminal. That's separate from the $1-to-$2-per-bag tip that passengers also should give each the skycap. Unless you have oversize or extra bags, most carriers allow passengers to check their bags at their ticket counter for free.

Airport Security

When you're flying, one of the biggest frustrations can be going through airport security, especially if you're not familiar with the process as it has evolved in the past couple of years. Last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration, the average wait time to pass through airport security was three minutes, with a peak wait of 10.8 minutes. That's up from 2.3 minutes and a 10.4-minute peak in 2002. Wait times vary largely depending on the airport and time of day. The TSA's Web site, http://www.tsa.gov , gives historical information about security-screening wait time at various airports nationwide.

To pass through security a little more easily, travelers should remove all metal items, including keys, cellphones, watches, jewelry (except for rings), BlackBerrys and loose change, from their pockets and send them through the X-ray machine. Most seasoned travelers carry a plastic bag for these items and then place the bag in one of the plastic bins provided.

One of the biggest issues facing airport security is whether travelers must remove their shoes. The rules seem to vary depending on the airport and the TSA screener. TSA spokesman Darrin Kayser says that travelers are not required to remove their shoes but that it is recommended. That's because the type of shoe could fit an internal TSA profile and could cause you to be pulled aside for additional screening -- better to let the shoes be screened separately. Kayser also recommends checking with the TSA to see which items are not allowed in your carry-on bag, such as cigarette lighters.

In-Flight

If you are in coach and want a more comfortable seat, it may cost you a little extra, depending on the airline. Recently, Northwest Airlines became the first carrier to begin charging passengers $15 for some of its aisle and exit-row seats.

Last fall, fare expert Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com, was one of the first industry analysts to predict that airlines would begin charging for sodas and exit-row seats. Now he predicts other carriers to begin adopting such additional fees. Trippler says traditional, legacy carriers will soon begin charging passengers a fee for checking their bags, even if passengers check their bags at the ticket counter. Trippler also thinks airlines will begin charging for sodas and juice. And he expects other airlines to begin charging for aisle and exit-row seats, as well.

"Passengers are getting to the point where they say, 'This is the way it is,' " he said. "Department stores used to wrap gifts for free. Banks charge to use ATMs, and furniture stores charge to deliver. The airlines are just a little late to the party."

If you want a meal, or actually a cold sandwich, chances are you will have to pay between $2 and $5. Most airlines, except for Continental, have eliminated meals during flights and have replaced them with buy-on-board snack boxes on flights of about four hours or more, depending on the carrier.

Los Angeles real estate lawyer Ira J. Waldman avoids paying for in-flight snacks and instead regularly stops at one of his favorite airport restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen or Chili's to pick up a meal to go.

"They're fee-ing me to death," Waldman says. "Some of these fees now are just a joke."

And it's not just meals. American Airlines' subsidiary American Eagle this year did a test run of charging passengers $1 for a soda. Last month, the airline eliminated that fee, at least for now. And if you want to catch the in-flight movie, you may be better off bringing your own headphones, otherwise you'll probably have to pay $2 to $5 if you're flying Delta, American, Continental, US Airways or Northwest.

The airlines say many of the costs are added to cover items that might otherwise be taken off a flight because of increased costs. "It's a balance. We are responding to the increasing cost pressures from fuel and government taxes and fees and balancing that with customer requests for simple and less expensive travel," says Gina Laughlin, Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman. Delta is trying to cut its costs while reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Northwest Airlines Corp. spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the airline began testing a fee for exit-row and aisle seats after many last-minute passengers -- who often pay higher fares -- complained that the preferred seats are not available when they book their flights, the good seats having been snapped up by leisure travelers paying discounted fares booked sometimes months in advance. Ebenhoch said that the test was "exceeding" initial estimates and that the practice would generate at least $15 million in annual revenue and was expected to grow as "more customers become more familiar" with the offering.

Some travelers say the increased charges could send even the most loyal customer fleeing. Falls Church architect Carleton Hawpe said he would take an airline that has a connecting flight that doesn't charge fees for items rather than a non-stop flight on an airline that has numerous fees. "The bottom line for me is the need to respect the customer and understand the customer's needs and provide convenience," he says. "To me, [the fees are] disrespect."

Car Rental

Car-rental companies charge numerous fees, most of them government taxes. But there are others. Most renters already know the best way to avoid having to pay a high gas charge, which could be as much as $4 to $6 a gallon depending on the company, is to return the car with a full tank.

Budget Rent A Car charges an additional $9.50 on all vehicles driven fewer than 75 miles. And last year, after numerous complaints from its major corporate clients, Hertz eventually backed away from its plan to charge customers a $2.50 reservation fee for rentals booked in the United States whether through a Web site or with a Hertz telephone agent.

Hotel

It's not just the airline and car-rental industries adding charges. Since 2003, some full-service hotel properties have begun charging $2.50 to $5 for mini-bar restocking and $1 to $5 for guests who use the in-room safe. Some hotels with spa facilities have been known to automatically charge patrons regardless of whether the pool or health club were used. Some Starwood properties also charge guests about $1 or $2 per bag to store their luggage until they check in or check out of the hotel. And if you want to receive an overnight package while staying at a Hyatt, it could cost between $2 and $6.

The hotel fees vary depending on city and chain, says Bjorn Hanson, an analyst at PricewaterhouseCoopers. For example, one Starwood property may charge a fee in one city, but another property may not.

"Hotels have spent a record amount on capital improvements such as Internet access and flat-screen TVs. Now hotels are looking to recover some of the investment that they made," Hanson says. By charging fees and not increasing the room rate, the hotels in some places are also able to avoid having the fees taxed.