Airlines that make the most in fees

Air travel has become a lot less enjoyable, and among the biggest annoyances is the fees airlines charge for things that once were included in the fare.

By Steve Yoder, The Fiscal Times

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440Comments
America First (azfirst)
Jul 15, 2012 4:53PM
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I have nothing against the airlines maing a profit.  Without it there would be no airlines.   But, I traveled a lot back when it was actually fun.  Now I won't fly unless it's an absolute necessity.  The airlines can take a flying leap as far as I 'm concerned and they can take TSA with them.

whbclaire
Jul 11, 2012 11:38AM
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I avoid all this airline crap by flying Southwest. They have no baggage fees, a great seating system, and still give you snacks. I never fly any other domestic airline if I can help it.
kakaa
Jul 15, 2012 5:39PM
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The air lines put in more and more seats. There is hardly any space to breath. The lean-back-seat ends up in the lap/face of the person behind you. And they have the nerves to add fees on everything.
Regulate!
Lester Wolff
Jul 15, 2012 4:41PM
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I'm waiting for a charge for using a seat belt 
allen e weast (ford pu)
Jul 15, 2012 4:32PM
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dumb people stop flying for 6 months  watch the airlines go broke
airline service is a mess
Jul 15, 2012 4:38PM
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It won't be long before they charge to use the restroom on the plane, AND charge you extra for the amount of toilet paper you use.  God forbid if a plane has a decompression cause they will charge you extra for the oxygen mask & oxygen too.  Eventually they will charge for the drawbridge you use to enter & exit off the plane.
Moonwatcher_Song
Jul 15, 2012 4:45PM
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I must be missing something here. The article says the price of the tickets doesn't cover the fuel, labor or maintenance costs. So, if passengers aren't helping pay for those costs, exactly what are they helping pay for in those ticket prices? If they aren't helping with the labor force which would include everyone who works for the airlines, keeping those planes stay in good shape ,nor pay for  the fuel to keep them up in the sky,  does  that mean they are paying for the purchasing price of the planes and insurance? Sounds like something is off in the article. Why is it we hear about the airlines stating they have to raise ticket prices to off set fuel costs then? Like so many other things in society costs are rising, but with some preplanning one can avoid most of these charges. I  used to be required to travel on various airlines for an extended period of time. I quickly  learned to bring items from home to meet  my own needs. Thereby  avoiding extra fees.. In addition  there is a  difference between wants and needs. Compared to the crowded,  rudimentary and often dangerous conditions so many others in the world experience while traveling, we really have it quite well off flying when all is said and done. However, the airlines should still be on the hook for one luggage and one carryon in the price of a ticket.

j blanco
Jul 15, 2012 4:49PM
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Hate all the airlines. Hate the security.  I'll drive instead.
EveryWhichWay
Jul 15, 2012 8:14PM
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For those concerned with the well being of the Airlines, remind me are these the same airlines that after 911 because people didn't want to fly they cried and cried about going broke and we (the US citizens) had to save them with huge bailouts, am I remembering that correctly?

Mark77451
Jul 15, 2012 6:05PM
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I still think that any of the Asian air lines are far superior to any U.S. air line. The service, the attitude, the professionalism, and over-all quality is much better. Such a shame that I am treated so much better when I am 7,000 miles away from home. But, that's how things are going in our country.
annonymous4136
Jul 15, 2012 8:51PM
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I'm sick of reading through the advetisements saying to go to a stupid website for singles. MSN takes no steps to block them and it makes me angry. I just doubled the amount of time it would normally take to read the comments. Shame on you idiots and ****'s for posting this garbage and shame on you MSN for doing nothing about it.
ROBERTO CARLOS Tito ROENA
Jul 15, 2012 4:29PM
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The answer is to boycott the large airlines and seek alternative airlines or other transportation
BNSFhogger
Jul 11, 2012 1:44AM
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Free market? 

 

 I don't see the airlines building and maintaining airports or the airlines paying for all those TSA agents that are "needed" to protect private industry.

 

Thought I was buying made in the USA-NOT
Jul 15, 2012 6:07PM
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hey people my luggage has been damaged 3 times (2 suitcases were totaled and one was a samsonite!) and the airlines told me "tough" and did not fix or replace the luggage.  Since the airlines charges us for putting our bag on the plane, they should also be taking on the responsibility of getting the bag back to us in the same condition we gave it to them. .  If I pay a store to deliver something, they sure as hell are responsible for it to arrive without any damage or they accept the cost of the broken item and the cost of delivering me a new one. The airline should not have a right to charge us for a service without the responsiblity to provide us that service without any damage. I think we should do a class action suit against them for failure to protect our luggage!  We are being forced to pay for a service we are not getting.
glennB
Jul 11, 2012 9:42AM
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are those airlines now reducing fees as fuel costs drop ? or was it always a crock of sh-t ?
AngelD.
Jul 15, 2012 9:43PM
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Airline companies have the right to charge whatever they want for their services and amenities. That said, I have the right to say "up yours" to the airlines and not fly - AT ALL. I am a lifetime platinum frequent flyer on American and award traveler on US Air and Continental - but 5 years ago I got so disgusted with the industry's lack of customer service and their over-charging for what used to be free, that the whole "flying" experience was no longer enjoyable and I found a new job where I don't fly at all. Now, once a year I have to endure the experience that used to be so exciting and enjoyable. All I can say is, that the airlines brought it all on themselves.
candyb92
Jul 15, 2012 5:35PM
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Unfortunately most people do not have the time to take a train. Airplanes are the quickest transportation. I dont live in a European country and have 3 mos off at one time. And when I do take a vacation or have to go somewhere unexpectedly, I don't want to use by life savings to do it. I do think the Govt needs to step in and regulate what these airlines can charge. The price of the ticket should cover everything. Should include food, seat, baggage and anything else. So what is the price of the ticket paying for? Gasoline? The airlines are getting away with murder. The airline industry is becoming a conglomerate and they know what they can get away. No a cartel just like the oil industry.  

Golden Records DSY
Jul 15, 2012 11:32PM
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I have nothing against the airlines making a profit.  Without it there would be no airlines.  
But, I traveled a lot back when it was actually fun.  Now I won't fly unless it's an absolute necessity.  The airlines can take a flying leap as far as I 'm concerned and they can take TSA with them. 
melanie link
Jul 14, 2012 11:55PM
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I used to enjoy flying.
Tabasco Ed
Jul 11, 2012 2:38PM
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"The fares the airlines charge don't cover the costs of fuel, labor and maintenance, notes Lott"

 

So charge fares that do cover these things and eliminate the fees.  Congress needs to abolish all of these fees, not just for the airlines, but for all businesses.  The stated price should be the actual price the customer pays, including all costs and taxes.

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