The flying public is facing a raft of fees and added charges from airlines trying to offset rising costs, especially for fuel.
The $61 billion the industry expects to pay for fuel this year is triple last year's costs, according to the trade group Air Transport Association.
Among the most recent add-ons is JetBlue's decision to charge its customers $7 for a pillow and blanket that had once been offered for free. JetBlue responded to criticism by noting that customers who opt for the deal will also receive a carry-on bag for the blanket and pillow along with a $5 coupon from a national retailer. Their customers, though, may not think it is such a deal.
The fees are being tacked on for services that were once part of an all-inclusive price but now must be paid for separately. The extent of the fees was outlined in a USA Today survey of 15 airlines with charges for 19 products and services.
All of them charged for checking a second and third bag, up to as much as $125 in some instances, but fees are starting to show up in some airlines for even the first bag.
Hungry passengers will also pay anywhere from $2 to $5 for their snacks on 10 out of the 15 airlines. While four of those surveyed do not serve meals, there was no charge on two airlines. The rest will charge from $5 to $11 for a meal.
Airlines also charge extra for a preferred seat or for booking a flight on the phone.
Those who use their frequent flier miles are also being tapped for extra cash. Most of the airlines do not charge for booking their ticket online (just two did), but nine of the remaining airlines added a charge, up to as much as $90, for booking a frequent-flier ticket on the phone.
The fees can add up for airlines such as US Airways which expects to generate $400 million to $500 million annually from them.
Kate Hanni, executive director of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, said the fees are causing confusion and anger. David Castelveter, vice president for the Air Transport Association, countered that the airlines publicize them and media attention has made customers more aware of them.
The government cannot tell the airlines what to charge. So cautious passengers have to be aware now that the price of the ticket is just the beginning of their cost.