You're right Sean, it is indeed nickel and diming to flying community. The airlines must have folks who sit around figuring out ways to squeeze a little more out of each flyer. Go Southwest!

Posted By Tom B. on September 29, 2009, 1:42 PM

I hate to hear that BA has taken this unreasonable step to fees. BA became my favorite airlines to travel when our family was living in the UK because of their service. I would encourage travelers on BA to turn this around on those Fee Exacting executives. As a mom traveling with 3 small children years ago I would have gladly welcomed the chance to sit separately to catch a wink or two. So go ahead BA and separate families so some other poor traveler can get stuck babysitting someone else's kids. Let's see how well that goes over and how long it will take before BA rethinks this infinite wisdom of fees.

Posted By Jenny Pepper on September 30, 2009, 10:59 AM

You should charge BA a fee, surcharge, whatever way u can stick it to them, (& all the other airlines w/o a good excuse and a reasonable explanation for their nickle and diming the consumer), for your having to review them.

Posted By foofey23 on September 30, 2009, 12:39 PM

Um- Tom B., Southwest already instituted their own version of this fee: you can now pay to board first and pick your seat ahead of others, even those who arrived earlier. It's around $10/flight leg. Go Southwest my arse. They're working hard to suck just as much as the rest of the industry. Be honest. Raise the damn fares.

I want a web site that tells you the "real fare" including one checked bag, self-selected seats, and a meal if appropriate, not the pre-nickled-and-dimed fare.

Posted By Cranky on September 30, 2009, 12:52 PM

FYI: Tripadvisor.com/flights is the only travel search engine that includes estimates of baggage fees, etc., in the prices it lists.

Posted By Sean on September 30, 2009, 1:24 PM

Hey, I don't have a problem with this new policy. All we need to do is get a playgroup of 2-yr-olds together and book a BA flight & not pay the fee, then enjoy the results when the entire plane erupts in frantic crying as the toddlers are prevented from sitting next to mummy and daddy. I think the new rule would change fairly quickly!

Posted By Marilyn_Res on September 30, 2009, 11:29 PM

Airtran does this already and it is one reason I don't like that airline.

Posted By rkyfan on October 1, 2009, 10:23 AM

We have already experienced this unpleasantness when flying BA as codeshares with American. It wasn't a big deal to be separated on a short flight from London-Rome a few months ago, but last year because of this 24 hours nonsense my husband and I were separated on a flight from London-Delhi. We both got wedged into middle seats apart from each other, and let's just say that the people on either side of us didn't smell too great. I'm Gold Elite AA flyer, but this didn't seem to matter.

Posted By Ann on October 1, 2009, 11:14 AM

I will never be able to fly BA, I guess. I have a clotting disorder and have gotten a deep vein thrombosis from air travel. I have to have an aisle seat. I shouldn't have to pay for that. So I will vote with my wallet, so to speak.

Posted By Joyce on October 1, 2009, 11:29 AM

This is the most assinine way of making money I've seen so far! We pay a fee to ride on an airplane, and we are required to sit on that plane. So why on earth would we have to pay extra for a seat?

I agree with 'Cranky' who said 'I want a web site that tells you the "real fare" including one checked bag, self-selected seats, and a meal if appropriate, not the pre-nickled-and-dimed fare.' Just raise the airfare a few bucks and give us one totally inclusive price for a ticket.

Posted By Jeanie on October 1, 2009, 11:46 AM

Seems that on every other airline, I pick my seats when I book the flight and that's it. Why would I fly BA and wait for my seat selection? And why would I pay a fee to select my seat? Sounds like the worst of Ryanair is rubbing off on them, but without the advantage of cheap fares.

Posted By Dan on October 1, 2009, 11:48 AM

Spirit has been doing the same for almost a year and theprices are higher for aisle and seats closer to the front. Bad business.

Posted By Anne on October 1, 2009, 12:25 PM

God forbid that there is turbulence or worse on a flight were u are "forced" to sit away from a loved one... especially my kids. My daughter has seperation anxioty and is just starting after 3 years to come out of it. Should there be a mishap on a flight and I was unable to sit next to my children... I would hope that my family would "Sue" BA for the principle and the injustice! They would loose all of those fees and then some. They need to think before they act on such ignorant fees!

Posted By Chery B on October 1, 2009, 12:40 PM

For those that suggest just raising the fares a bit to include everything, don't you think the airlines have already tried that? It doesn't work because everyone thinks you should be able to fly coast to coast for $99 each way. Airfares are actually less expensive today than 10 years ago even though the costs to run this industry have gone up significantly. I don't agree with BA's new seat fee especially when dealing with families with children, however until people are willing to pay what a flight actually costs, airlines will continue to add fees so they can stay in business.

Posted By KB on October 1, 2009, 12:42 PM

I fly with my 11 year old and have had it happen many times that I selected seats with us together (even at 24 hour check in!) to find out at the gate that we have been separated.

He is a very talkative boy, oddly, I have never had an issue convincing other passengers to switch my window seat for the middle seat next to him.

Posted By Naomi on October 1, 2009, 1:13 PM

I'm flying to London in November on BA, having reserved the flight on Expedia in July. This new policy is extortion, in addition to the new policy of BA now charging economy class for a second bag. If I had a choice, I'd change airlines, but guess what, Virgin is also beginning to lean in this direction.
I fly on an American airline, but there planes are old and junky and they were the leaders in this fee scam - Most rip offs originate here.
The bottom line is - travel is going to get a lot more uncomfortable (and fee intensive) and I don't think there is a thing you can do about it - The airlines are following the rental car, bank and hotel business models (charge a competitive price upfront and then add ridiculous fees, which become profit centers for them, after the customer is hooked).
I've racked my brain trying to figure out how to get back at theses crooks - maybe someone has some ideas how we could act as a block to get our voices heard.
In the meantime, pay up, sit down where they put you with your knees up to your chin, put on your headphones to drowned out the crying brat next to you and take an ambien to assuage the pain. Bon Voyage.....

Posted By Jim on October 1, 2009, 1:32 PM

I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. I love flying to London, but I will NEVER fly British Airways again. Done. The idea of separating families is the most absurd idea I have ever heard of. Don't any of the executives making these decisions have families, or do they all use the corporate jet?

Posted By Eva on October 1, 2009, 2:11 PM

Spirit does this as does Southwest and I fly both fairly often. I've never had a problem checking in 24 hours ahead and getting a decent seat on any leg. Granted I usually fly on my own or with one other adult but as long as you check in in advance there usually isn't an issue.

I could see there being an issue if you don't check in until a few hours before and you're a family of 4. Then I can understand that the fee doesn't seem fair but as someone else mentioned you (likely) paid far less for the flight than it's worth so the money has to come from somewhere.

Posted By Karen on October 1, 2009, 2:18 PM

BA has to be one of the worst airlines in the world. Passengers are treated like cattle. Is this new fair point any surprise? Try another carrier, look for another airline.

Posted By TierraDelFuego on October 1, 2009, 2:32 PM

This has been happening for ages. Let me assure you, when one is traveling with minors, the airlines will gateswitch passengers until the minors are no loger traveling alone. I promise that I begged KLM and Delta to leave me separated from my 3 and 6 year olds Germany to NY and NY to Germany I had not, even through airline FF assistance lines, been able to get us seats together): they unreasonably required us to be seated together and the gate agents moved other people around, against their will, until we were:)

Posted By G on October 1, 2009, 3:11 PM

Arline seats have finally become an "article of commerce". "A commodity that can be bought and sold."

If I think hard I will discover a few more items on board that could become commodities.

If there are any airline officials reading this I am available for hire. My skills are varied.

John

Posted By John on October 1, 2009, 3:18 PM

One good reason why I will NOT be flying on British Airways. We still have other airlines to fly until they all get ridiculous with these "extra fees". Guess we appreciate what we have - while we still have it.

Posted By Marion Paris on October 1, 2009, 3:20 PM

BA is a horrible airline from a customer-service standpoint, and has been for years. I would never fly an airline with this policy (but BA's decision doesn't change much since I stopped flying them in the 90's after tiring of being treated like cattle, as noted by a previous comment.)

I generally won't fly on any airline that doesn't allow advance seat selection. That means Southwest is rarely on my itinerary either.

Posted By Daviator on October 1, 2009, 3:21 PM

British Airlines is competing against itself, for the fact that they are one of the few airlines that will not assign seats, not even for business class travelers, until the 24 hour time frame. That's why we avoid their airline.

Posted By Leslie on October 1, 2009, 3:35 PM

Customer service has gone through the window as far as airlines are concerned. Loyalty programs almost non-existant. At least Delta upgrades you once in a while if you are a medallion member. Southwest sends drink coupons and the best thing about this airline is that they don't take your money twice! If you have to rebook or cancel, at least you are credited and not charged for it unless the fares are higher but that's another story. No food, no bags, no seat! what next?! no wings on the plane!

Posted By linda on October 1, 2009, 3:35 PM

We flew BA in Business Class this summer from Atlanta to London, and even in the premium classes you couldn't choose your seat until 24 hours in advance. We didn't have any trouble though; the planes were half empty. This is a stupid time to institute a fee like this, espcially one that high.

Posted By MBrandes on October 1, 2009, 3:44 PM

With all of the passenger harrassment, it's not surprising that the airline business is way down. Aside from Southwest, airlines that are charging passengers to check their luggage have made the boarding process an even greater ordeal as they drag their monster bags into the passenger area. At one time I flew more than 20,000 miles per year. Now, whenever possible, I will choose alternative form of transportation.

Posted By Lewis Edge on October 1, 2009, 4:03 PM

What's this silliness about people paying less than the flight is worth? It's worth what you pay for it, period. All these add-on fees just hurt customer loyalty, satisfaction, and create an even more hostile perception of this industry. I have a suggestion for the airlines, in line with the direction they're headed. Place an industrial scale at check-in and require all passengers to be weighed. Assess additional fees based on passenger weight. Justify it by saying that weight affects fuel costs.

Posted By Lisa B. on October 1, 2009, 4:12 PM

I hate to say this but I think that it is time for the Government to help the airlines again. :) This would take the form of a accuracy in pricing law of some sort. My wife works for a company that deals with government oversight and I work in the theatre industry and one thing that you don't ever want to hear is, "Hello, were from the government and we are here to help you." I definitely think that it is time. The airlines need help. We all need to call our Representatives and members of Parliament and Senators and ask for this to be made law. Then the BS can stop.
I don't mind if the airlines charge what they need to charge but the crap needs to be up front and honest. They can sort themselves out and play nice or we can help them. It is time to decide.

Oh yes, and we have a small child that we travel with who also is very talkative (cute, but maybe not if you aren't her parent) and has separation anxiety. What kind of Psychotic Bastards are the people that make policy at the airlines that they would arrange for families to sit apart from each other? This never ceases to piss me off. And yet, it never ceases to amaze me that people are so vicious and greedy and inhumane.

Also as a side note, I fly BA a lot and I never noticed that they don't allow families to sit together. I wonder why I never noticed? Hmmmm... Is it because my wife is a corporate frequent flyer or have I just been lucky?
Thanks,
Brian.

Posted By Brian Marten on October 1, 2009, 4:30 PM

Let's all hype our toddlers up on sugar before the flight and watch chaos erupt. The airline will reverse those fees in a hurry. Imagine a sugar-hyped and cranky toddler sitting 30 feet away from mum and dad when the seatbelt light goes on and mum and dad can't leave their seats. :-))) Oh, what fun that will be for the British Air.

Posted By Donna on October 1, 2009, 4:53 PM

I'm surprised that the airlines haven't charged yet for bathroom use. The greedy airline executives could fleece us and line their pockets with $.50 cent and $1.00 charges for pees and poops respectively. If this happens, I hope more people will use trains and make them viable again (in the States) as a competitive mode to flying domestically.

Posted By James on October 1, 2009, 5:22 PM

Tom:
Southwest to London?????

Posted By lawthomas on October 1, 2009, 5:43 PM

1) If you don't like the fee, then don't pay it...no one is forcing you to pay the fee.
2) Everyone complains about the fees, but the reality is that NO ONE is wants to pay higher airfares, rather than the OPTIONAL fees.
3) When you go to a restaurant and order a main course, sometimes you have to pay extra for a salad. What's the difference?
4) If you don't like airline fees, feel free to take a train or a boat.
5) Now sit down, buckle up and quit complaining.

Posted By Airline Employee on October 1, 2009, 6:17 PM

I just discovered today when I booked a flight using frequent flyer miles that Northwest and Continental (and likely other airlines) now charge a $75 fee to use your miles.
It seems ironic that the airlines that were claiming how unsafe it is to have a lot of large carryons filling the overhead bins now charge to have bags checked. So what happens? Of course everyone carries on and the overhead bins are crammed. This makes for longer lines in security while people try to get their liquids out of bags and sometimes longer waits to get on the plane while people attempt to argue that they don't have too many carryons. Last time we flew we saw two people with two approximately 22" suitcases each go through security without their liquids separated. This, of course, held everyone up. Later, on one leg of our flight, a suitcase a tad large for the overhead bin was almost impossible to dislodge when it was time to leave the plane. A woman whose camera bag was jammed in beside it was justifiably concerned about her gear. I don't blame the people who carry on (except of course for the idiots who somehow have missed learning about all the security rules and aren't prepared or who try to carry on too much stuff); I blame the airlines for their nickel-and-diming.

Posted By Bonnie Dickson on October 1, 2009, 10:53 PM

That's outrageous.
I won't be flying BA or anyone else who levies such ridiculous taxes.

Posted By Gail on October 1, 2009, 11:15 PM

I was already avoiding British Airways because they limit your carry-on to 6 kilos (13 pounds)in coach. I'm the guru of lightweight travel (put dot com after my name and visit my site) but 6 kilos is just a tad light for an overseas trip of a month or two. Now they want to split up families? Others have mentioned children. There are also older folks. Will flight attendants make sure they all stay hydrated and get up and move around periodically so they don't get deep-vein thrombosis and suffer a stroke? If you believe they will ... then good luck to your loved ones. There are many situations where people need to take care of their traveling companions and the FAs are not going to be able to handle these. I understand some airline fees but when it comes to health and safety, we passengers must take a stand. As an older woman, when I travel alone on Southwest, I often choose a seat next to an unaccompanied child, to prevent a perv from doing so and to help the child if needed. The children seem relieved when a grandmotherly person sits next to them but you can't count on someone like me sitting next to your child. Anyone could sit there and now BA has made it even easier. BA was obviously thinking more of profits than passenger safety. -- Barbara DesChamps

Posted By Barbara DesChamps on October 2, 2009, 1:55 AM

Since I haven't had to travel by air outside of the US in recent years, I ONLY fly Jet Blue and Southwest. I make many trips coast to coast and I am pleased with both of these airlines. They have good customer service and do not nickel and dime. Although Jet Blue now charges extra for some seats, all of their seats offer plenty of leg room for the average person. Southwest has always been terrific to its customers anyway. Years ago I was a loyal American Airlines fan. I have not flown them for a good ten years since I found their employees had become extraordinarily rude. Ditto for Delta.

Posted By PATRIOTGIRL76 on October 2, 2009, 6:27 AM

When flying in the US I fly Jetblue whenever possible, they don't nickle and dime - no fee for the first bag checked, a seat assignment, TV, snack and drink. All these rediculous fees keep me away from other airlines. Obviously I can't take Jetblue to London, and I'm not going to never take BA, but it wont be my first choice either.

Posted By Crissy on October 2, 2009, 7:22 AM

It's bad enough having to endure the transatlantic flights in economy (coach) class, but to pay for the privilege is asking a bit much. Don't fly BA.

And I'm British!

Posted By Paddy Browne on October 2, 2009, 10:32 AM

I agree with Marilyn Res comment. Just book a flight with small children and when you can't sit with them, watch the flight attendants have to play babysitter. If the flight attendants complain, maybe this will change.

Posted By Miller from Ohio on October 2, 2009, 10:36 AM

Forget it BA, My last flight on BA had a great cabin crew but when they go to our row the only meal choice was FISH PIE... I will not be traveling an airline that does not give a darn about passengers.

Posted By Pat on October 2, 2009, 4:16 PM

The kind of people who don't pay extra to travel business or first class are - in most cases - also the kind of people who won't pay unnecessary fees. I say unnecessary because most people can arrange to change seats once onboard. I've ended up in coach a few times - I'm a Premier Executive on United, who usually sit in first and my travel is all business related and paid for - and those times are the ones I changed seats to sit with my boyfriend (we work and travel together). I can't wait until B.A. gets sued by someone who's kid was harrassed by another passenger on a flight - although I am not wishing this on a child. Bad things will come from this, and it is VERY shortsighted of B.A. to implement the idea. It shows why they're doing bad and needing the money: they are bad business people who make bad decisions!

Posted By Sophie on October 2, 2009, 6:11 PM

The solution's quite simple, really: If you travel with family or a companion, don't fly British Airways. Vote with your wallet!

Posted By Daniel J. Vandeberg on October 3, 2009, 12:42 AM

I just booked a Frontier Airlines flight rt from REAGAN National airport in D.C. to DENVER CO. My travel agent informed me that it was the type booking that only allowed seat selection at checkin unless I pay an additional $50 fee rt to select seats in advance plus I could then also have one free checked bag. The trip is in late November. So I paid twice as much for a flight for my son to fly home for Thanksgiving plus had to pay extra to make sure he had a seat. He had just planned on a carryon bag so I had not planned on paying extra for checking a bag. So this is similar to British Airways policy, many passengers do just carry on bags to save money and time.

Posted By Susan on October 3, 2009, 2:45 AM

These seat selection fees have some potentially unsettling consequences. Parents can be separated from their children. Most airlines allow family preboarding when children are under 5-6. So a 7 year-old could spend a long flight sitting next to or between strangers. They may not know about the child's food allergies, or may be criminals or pedophiles. The airlines are taking a huge legal risk not arranging for families to sit together, in order to get a few bucks for extra fees. A friend of mine just returned from a family funeral with her 5-year old on Southwest, and they could not get seats together. No one would move so they could sit together. Only when she placed her child in a middle seat and the child started to cry, did one of the other passengers give up their seat for her. That's ridiculous. Airlines should allow all adults flying with a child (under 18) to preboard, and they should be allowed to sit together if seating is not assigned, or they should institute a policy that adults flying with children should be required to be assigned seating together. Because the child might be difficult, and the adult might want to get away from the child, it is also the adult's responsibility when flying with a child, to control the child.

Posted By Rachel on October 3, 2009, 4:07 PM

How about coin operated drop down oxygen masks? If the cabin depressurizes, you simply put 4 quarters in the overhead dispenser, and you can breath again!

Don't have 4 quarters? No problem. The flight attendant will give you 4 quarters, for twenty dollars...

Posted By Ron on October 4, 2009, 12:08 PM

As someone who really doesn't like spending time with young children, I'd be royally "perturbed" if I got stuck next to a child and thereby got stuck taking care of the child. That's not my job nor do I want it. BA is being petty and very short-sighted per family members traveling together, as others have commented. What about those traveling with handicapped people? My son is 22 and is nearly deaf. Whereas he does travel alone at times, he's had difficulty b/c he can't hear flight instructions, that gates have changed, or when the flight attendant speaks to him. Thus, he prefers to travel with a hearing companion. Does this mean he can't sit with said companion? Quit being so cheap BA; the ill-will and bad publicity that this decision has garnered outweighs the small amt of money you might gain.

Posted By Susan on October 4, 2009, 7:54 PM

Look on the bright side - at least BA gives you free wine.

Posted By gypsy grandmum on October 5, 2009, 11:33 AM

Most of disabled deaf and impaired deaf are likely as handicapped. Some of them are veteran and cannot hear the flight instructions both in their fore head and mind plus eyes they know about flight instructions,
On other hands some of disabled can hearing the flight instruction if they wear the hearing aid in their ears.
The most problem facing is that the traveling security warned the an electronic which carrying the battery should prohibit while there two batteries in the hearing device?

Posted By Oliver Igbo on October 8, 2009, 5:30 AM

On a recent Delta flight I was charged for a small shoulder bag (8x10x4 inches) that I was carrying. I could not argue the charge as we had just arrived on a flight from Finnland and had to change terminals to catch the Delta flight or stay overnight in New York.

If the airlines wish to discourage excess baggage, all they have to do is to spell it out and stick to the requirements. To charge for bags is insulting and irritating. If the real reason is more revenue, then they should raise ticket prices.

Posted By Peter Friedmann on October 8, 2009, 10:32 AM

But Wait!!! There's more!!! Heard today the airlines are going to charge an extra $20 per destination for traveling on/near the holidays -- Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, President's Day, Easter, etc. Are you serious?!?!? The fares are already higher during these times due to the law of supply and demand. So what is the extra fee covering?

Posted By Sue on October 8, 2009, 11:10 AM

Well. . .no one has mentioned Southwest's own personal way to get more money: Quote ONE price for the trip down (say to Orlando--$89.00) from (say Manchester) and a SECOND (always HIGHER) price ($139.00) for the return trip! AND, they have fixed their pricing algorithm so that there is no way a traveler can purchase two one way trips to eliminate the extra $50.00 charge. Clever, but questionable from an ethical point of view.
I really hate to see the government get involved, but when the money men of the airlines can ask their attorneys (on retainer, no doubt--use it or lose it) for all the legal extra charges they can levy, they are pushing the Government to do to them what they did to auto manufacturers - require a complete cost profile to be posted.

As one who was charged EXTRA for a spare tire when we went to take possession of a new car and discovered that it had no spare and insisted one be provided, I agree. However, our complaints did not stop the situation. Five years later, Chevrolet added a $13.62 charge for turn signals on our new car--the salesman said putting your arm out to signal a turn was legal in every state--so this was just an added convenience we had to pay for! (By the way, for years SAAB and others had Detroit's "lunch" by advertising "one price--and it includes everything.")

Posted By Uncle John on October 8, 2009, 11:42 AM

Hi Sue,
RE:
But Wait!!! There's more!!! Heard today the airlines are going to charge an extra $20 per destination for 10 dates near the holidays. So what is the extra fee covering?

Sue: There IS NO ADDITIONAL FEE. Their just raising the fares, like they always do at the holidays. Sure, it's still money out of your purse, and that's exasperating during these rough economic times. (The Grinches!) But there is no special fee or extra money you'll have to fork over after you've bought your fare.
Safe travels,
Sean

Posted By Sean/Blog Editor on October 8, 2009, 2:38 PM

I wish I still had teenagers so that the brats could bother someone else while I get some rest....hmmmm.....maybe I would be leaning up against some good looking sexy man while my husband is with some other man's wife! I can see it now!!!

Posted By Diana on October 8, 2009, 5:51 PM

I am predicting that the next step is to have hanging straps (like those you find in the subway) for passengers who don't want to pay the "sitting down fee". Darn, now I've probably given them a new idea!

Posted By Califdoc on October 8, 2009, 6:16 PM

Unfortunately there are other airlines that are already charging a fee for seat selection. I refused to pay such a fee on my recent trip from Phx to Las Vegas and was given a middle seat. But then I wound up by the window anyway as two other passengers asked me to switch seats so they could sit together.

Posted By Belinda McGrew on October 9, 2009, 2:31 AM

Although I don't travel to the US much. My last couple of experiences with BA was club class to Munich. But there was no food, so my reward ? A £ 10 food voucher - which I didn't want to spend as the idea to is to "relax" and "enjoy" the flight, not rush before we get to the gate.

I've been using Ryan Air a lot (almost weekly) for the last few years. They're nearly ALWAYS on time and normally arrive early on 1 in 3 flights. They're cheap and don't hide their attempt to make money. On some flights I've only paid € 18 and that INCLUDES priority etc !

If I want a "meal" I can pay and it's roughly the same quality as BA.

If you KNOW and FOLLW the rules, you can get some VERY cheap and on time hassle free flights. I don't want to pay for a seat (I'm very good at being first on etc).

In addition, they reserve seats for families who are last to board.

On top of that. The aircraft are virtually new - which helps my piece of mind. So before you poo-poo the idea, have a look. I've given up on BA.

The problem with BA is that it's not sure what it is. Is it a UK leading carrier or is it a budget carrier ?

In addition, the RyanAir cabin crew are not any worse (or better to be fair) than BA.

BTW Anyone know where you can donate airmiles to charity ?

Posted By David Woodroof on October 14, 2009, 5:01 AM

It's stressful for a family to be separated, especially if there are young children. I assume the infant exception applies only to those under the age of 2, but I know our 2.5 year old would be distraught if she wasn't next to us...in fact it would be impossible to travel like that.

Posted By BA Traveller on October 14, 2009, 12:53 PM

I recently used the $10 option on Southwest. There were people in line with me - before me, that did not pay the $10. Then, I got pulled by TSA for an additional check. There went my $10 good seat. I will not be flying Southwest again because of it and I am a long time flyer of theirs.

Posted By Jodster on October 15, 2009, 3:59 PM

I am tired of all of the little fees the majority of airlines want to tack on for every little thing now. Just raise the ticket price $25.00 and give me a soda some stale peanuts or pretzels and let me put my 50 pounds of luggage in the cargo hold without an extra charge, please. American business doesn't get it that it is plain, old fashioned customer service that people want. I for one, am tired of the greed that characterizes business these days so the top CEO's can bank their millions in bonuses. I have pretty much stopped flying as a result of this nickel and diming people to death.

US Air is my least favorite. Once again they are being fined for poor/inadequate maintenance on their planes. What does that tell you? Let's skimp and save on passenger safety as well as comfort. Hum - what wonderful new things will the beancounters think of next to rake in the money?

Posted By Kathryn on October 20, 2009, 12:34 AM

As to British Airways charging a seat selection fee, I agree that there is something rotten going on across the pond. BA already charges what are by far the highest airport taxes and fees (nearly $400 for a transatlantic R/T flight on a recent check)and now this new gouge.

Still, since most of my air travel is domestic, my biggest peeve is with the bag check fee, for several reasons. For one, neither this nor the new seat assignment fee are intended to make up for new airline costs; there were no costs before. Whether bags are checked or brought on board does not affect the cost to an airline. Another problem is the increased volume of bags taken on board, I'm sure with the intent of avoiding bag check fees. Overhead bins are now crammed to the point where even coats don't fit - and I'm tired of keeping mine in my lap while flying. I have assisted numerous passengers with their bags, which were so big and heavy they couldn't lift them up to the bins without help(and would have been charged extra for the weight if they had checked them). To boot, I am fearful that this practice has the by-product of making the planes top heavy - a potentially dangerous situation.

Anyway, I'm not a big fan of BA to begin with, since my last three flights to London resulted in interminable delays due to mechanical problems with the planes after we were onboard (one of which caught fire), removal from service, debarking, waiting for the next available plane (also delayed) and so on. And no compensation.

So, here we are: fees, fees and more fees, nebulous taxes (where does the money really go?) long delays, marginal service - and all getting worse. I can see now why the private plane industry has become such an attractive alternate to commercial flying. Marquis card anyone?

Posted By Dave P. on October 22, 2009, 5:32 PM

(QUOTE)This has been happening for ages. Let me assure you, when one is traveling with minors, the airlines will gateswitch passengers until the minors are no loger traveling alone. I promise that I begged KLM and Delta to leave me separated from my 3 and 6 year olds Germany to NY and NY to Germany I had not, even through airline FF assistance lines, been able to get us seats together): they unreasonably required us to be seated together and the gate agents moved other people around, against their will, until we were:)

Posted By G on October 1, 2009, 3:11 PM

PEOPLE...AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT THIS??? IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WITH MINOR CHILDREN THE AIRLINE WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE SEATED TOGETHER. IF YOU HAVE A COMPANION ASK ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE TO SWITCH IF THEY ARE FLYING SOLO. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE FLIGHT IN THE SAME BOAT. DONT WANT TO COPE? PAY THE FEE!!

Posted By Connie R on October 25, 2009, 8:04 PM

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