Flight Fees now are half the ticket????????????!!!!!!

[JohnHKart]

I was thinking about going to England the end of September. My last trip to Europe a year ago, I think the fees were 60 bucks more than the ticket cost, so it ended up being $860. I've been checking flights the past couple of weeks and they are about 800, but the fees have jumped to 379 bucks, almost half the cost of the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must have missed the announcement...this is really insane. This is on several different websites, so it's not a website adding these fees. Does anybody know something about it?

[dando]

I was thinking about going to England the end of September. My last trip to Europe a year ago, I think the fees were 60 bucks more than the ticket cost, so it ended up being $860. I've been checking flights the past couple of weeks and they are about 800, but the fees have jumped to 379 bucks, almost half the cost of the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must have missed the announcement...this is really insane. This is on several different websites, so it's not a website adding these fees. Does anybody know something about it?

Fuel surcharges and baggage charges have gone up over the past year. I'm sure TG can fill you in on the details. :irked: One reason I love SWA (and I'm not Kevin Smith (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20344142,00.html)). :gomer:

-Kevin

[TravelGal]

Seems like you're checking British Airways? This has been their fee structure for the last couple of years. Virgin Atlantic does not have such high fees, although they are still noticeable. Best thing to do is check alternate airlines to avoid the fees and alternate airports for better fares then see if you can combine the two.

Alas fees in the $300 to $400 range are also common to much of the South Pacific. Why: the airlines are not taxed on fees, only on the ticket price.

As an aside, in one of the more earthshaking recent news releases regarding travel to the UK, London Gatwick Airport is changing its name to Gatwick Airport. :gomer: Just had to share that with my peeps on OC. OH, and they are changing the way the name is written from helvetic to (an unnamed) script rendering. The important part of the announcement is that their new terminal to terminal transfer system opens next week.

[JohnHKart]

Thanks for the response Travelgal. Mainly I check Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and Cheap Tickets. It's the same deal everywhere...cheapest flight tacks on 379 bucks to the 800 ticket. Thanks. Maybe I'll just spend the money on a guitar amp, or the paintjob and other stuff I want to do to my amazing Ford Escort, or for the down payment on the one world Focus I want.

[datachicane]

The Airline Industry:
Doing our best to make you reconsider rail.

[JoeBob]

Simple explanation for you:
Airlines have to pay taxes on fares they collect...they don't have to pay taxes on fees. More here: http://rickseaney.com/2010/01/29/irs-to-airlines-keep-your-bag-fees-we-wont-tax-them/

[TravelGal]

Thanks for the response Travelgal. Mainly I check Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and Cheap Tickets. It's the same deal everywhere...cheapest flight tacks on 379 bucks to the 800 ticket. Thanks. Maybe I'll just spend the money on a guitar amp, or the paintjob and other stuff I want to do to my amazing Ford Escort, or for the down payment on the one world Focus I want.

Driving a 2010 Focus this trip and don't like the interior space nearly as much as I did the 2009's. YMMV.

So you check all the websites owned by the airlines and get the same price. Not surprised too much. I (naturally) would suggest that seek out an agent in your area that is versed in the reputable wholesaler/consolidator market. You might save some money. Maybe not dramatic, but some. Or wait until shoulder season when the base fare goes down (although the $379 stays the same). Don't forget unusual routings like going further (change in Amsterdam or Frankfurt). Pain in patoot may ease pain in wallet.


The Airline Industry:
Doing our best to make you reconsider rail.

:rofl::rofl:


Simple explanation for you:
Airlines have to pay taxes on fares they collect...they don't have to pay taxes on fees. More here: http://rickseaney.com/2010/01/29/irs-to-airlines-keep-your-bag-fees-we-wont-tax-them/

Fare compare. Good site. He said what I said in post #2. :gomer: Srsly, it is a good site.

[nrc]

Can I just add at this time that carry-on luggage seems out of control. I predict a crackdown given the amount of time being wasted while passengers queue in the aisles trying to cram over-sized carry-ons into overhead compartments. :irked:

[SteveH]

I hope you're right. I have problem if the airlines enforce the number of carry on items and the size of each.

But they don't.

[JohnHKart]

Quote: Travel Girl: " Driving a 2010 Focus this trip and don't like the interior space nearly as much as I did the 2009's. YMMV.

So you check all the websites owned by the airlines and get the same price. Not surprised too much. I (naturally) would suggest that seek out an agent in your area that is versed in the reputable wholesaler/consolidator market. You might save some money. Maybe not dramatic, but some. Or wait until shoulder season when the base fare goes down (although the $379 stays the same). Don't forget unusual routings like going further (change in Amsterdam or Frankfurt). Pain in patoot may ease pain in wallet. "

Thanks for that Travel Girl, Decided not to go to UK this year. Have been to Germany for a week in 2009 and in 2007, it's just a ton of dough I've been happily blowing on travel so time to cut back this year. Oh and the Focus I refer to is this 2011 model.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/02_focus2010detroitlive.jpg

I'm 6 4 and the 2010 B class Fiesta seat goes so far back it's the wrong driving position, so I am sure the bigger C class Focus will have tons of room.

I'm sick of airports anyway and I'm excited next week to be driving the 500 miles to the Reno Air Races in my mostly rebuilt Ford Escort.

[TrueBrit]

I haven't been home in almost 3 years because of the fees...plus it really rubs me the wrong way that they can still advertise their fares as $279 one-way, when in fact it's double that when they tack on the fees...so much for truth in advertising...:shakehead

[Methanolandbrats]

Driving a 2010 Focus this trip and don't like the interior space nearly as much as I did the 2009's. YMMV.

So you check all the websites owned by the airlines and get the same price. Not surprised too much. I (naturally) would suggest that seek out an agent in your area that is versed in the reputable wholesaler/consolidator market. You might save some money. Maybe not dramatic, but some. Or wait until shoulder season when the base fare goes down (although the $379 stays the same). Don't forget unusual routings like going further (change in Amsterdam or Frankfurt). Pain in patoot may ease pain in wallet.

Thanks for that Travel Girl, Decided not to go to UK this year. Have been to Germany for a week in 2009 and in 2007, it's just a ton of dough I've been happily blowing on travel so time to cut back this year. Oh and the Focus I refer to is this 2011 model.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/02_focus2010detroitlive.jpg

I'm 6 4 and the 2010 B class Fiesta seat goes so far back it's the wrong driving position, so I am sure the bigger C class Focus will have tons of room.

I'm sick of airports anyway and I'm excited next week to be driving the 500 miles to the Reno Air Races in my mostly rebuilt Ford Escort. Try a Golf Diesel if you like hatchbacks.

[JohnHKart]

Sorry for late reply. Ah, yes I'm a firm fan of the TDI Golf and have written about it here before... Spent a week in it in Deutschland last year and it was the best car I ever drove. Since I keep my cars for a very long time, I would be pretty scared of the costs of keeping a VW.

[Methanolandbrats]

Sorry for late reply. Ah, yes I'm a firm fan of the TDI Golf and have written about it here before... Spent a week in it in Deutschland last year and it was the best car I ever drove. Since I keep my cars for a very long time, I would be pretty scared of the costs of keeping a VW.

I've been driving VWs for decades. They are not expensive to keep. Mine have 250, 175, 154 and 56 thousand miles on them and I would drive any of them across the country. They range in age from 1984 to 2007.

[TravelGal]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse (fees) to fly into Heathrow comes this:

According to the Financial Times, the airport will put up the minimum departure fee airlines pay from £220 to £1,000.

Lots of other screw, er belt tightening also "to make it more competitive with European rivals." Why yes, nearly quadrupling the fees should do it. :shakehead

[Kiwifan]

Big news down here,Gal. The NZ Gov't is waving the big stick towards the UK as Tourism is our biggest earner and we rely on you Agents sending folk Downunder. :) We all say "thanks!" :)

Rusty.

[TravelGal]

This one is for JohnHKart

EU Fines 11 Airlines For Price-Fixing
Air France-KLM, British Airways and nine other airlines were fined a total of USD$1.11 billion by EU regulators yesterday in a price-fixing case that could open the way for private claims against the companies. The EU said the airlines conspired to coordinate for charges for fuel and security with discounts between late 1999 and early 2006. [Ya think??!!]

Air France-KLM received the largest fine of €340 million and the airline said it was disproportionate and would appeal the fine. It already faces a claim of €500 million from a group of companies seeking compensation for alleged air cargo price-fixing. British Airways was fined €104 million, Singapore Airlines €74.8 million, Cathay Pacific €57.12 million, Qantas €8.9 million and Japan Airlines €35.7 million. Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines was fined €79.9 million and LAN Chile €8.2 million. Air Canada was fined €21 million and SAS €70.2 million and both are considering an appeal. Lufthansa was found guilty of taking part in the cartel but received immunity from punishment because it had alerted the Commission to the existence of the price-fixing scheme. [oooh, nasty] Swiss International Air Lines, acquired by Lufthansa in 2005, also escaped a fine. Litigation firm Claims Funding International which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the companies, said the number of claimants could increase.