From lusting after that cheap airline fare that's flashed up on your web browser to total frustration when you have finished adding on the extras—buying a cheap flight is akin to the holy grail. The list of add-ons keep on appearing—as do the extra charges—from luggage to picking a seat, having a meal to taxes; the list is endless and will quickly add up to a much larger dollar number than initially advertised. It would be heaven for those who take only hand luggage, don't care where they sit, whether they get fed, and are sure that nothing will get in the way of boarding the plane at the designated time and date for the flight. These little fees bite in a scrolling mass of choices from when you click purchase on the initial flight price.
Hidden fees and tips to avoid them:
Booking or service fees—usually on third-party booking sites unless stated otherwise; this is a fee purely for completing the transaction. It can even be included if you decide to speak to someone (call center or airline personnel at the airport) rather than clicking your fingertips on a computer.
Tip: Always book online with the airline’s own website. Don’t talk to anyone unless it’s yourself!
Foreign transaction fees—when booking a domestic or international flight with a credit card, you will get hit with a charge for processing the payment. If paying in a different currency, there will also be an extra charge.
Tip: Get a credit/debit card from a bank that offers no foreign transaction fees. Also, read the payment options and choose the method with the fewest extra charges.
Cancellation or change of flight—the charge to do this is often the cost of the flight once again.
Tip: Unless you are prepared to forgo the money spent on a really cheap airfare, don't consider an airline that doesn't offer flexibility in its policies. Read the fine print and if in doubt about actually getting on the flight, buy the travel insurance offered, or suck it up and pay the higher price for a flexible ticket.
In-flight amenities—think of WiFi, food and drink, in-flight entertainment systems, and comfy snuggle items such as pillows and blankets so you can attempt to curl up on your tiny hard seat.
Tip: If an airline charges for water, take your own empty drink bottle and fill it with water once you are through the airport hoo haa. Before going on the flight, download any movies, music, books and games onto your device. Take your own pillow or snuggle-rug if you need to be ‘that’ comfortable.
Seat Selection—choosing where you sit on the plane rather than rolling the dice with what you are given at the time of checking in. That particular seat will cost you—more leg room, the better view out of the window, or sitting in an aisle to avoid sliding over people or for a quicker getaway when the plane lands. However, you will be caught in the aisle anyway unless you have chosen right up the front. Picking your seat will come at a cost.
Tip: Have a don't care attitude and sit where you are given at the time of checking in, or in some cases, if you are face to face with a person at a check-in counter, politely ask for a particular seat at that time and your wish may come true if you grovel a bit. If you are traveling with your family or friends and have made no seat selection, airlines may assign seating together when checking in. But it's rolling a dice on this issue, as it will depend on the number of co-dependent people and whether there are enough unallocated seats to achieve this. If you really want to be shoulder to shoulder, suck the fee up and pay for it—especially if granny has dementia.
Baggage Allowance—this is a prickly one because how many people go on holiday with carry-on luggage only? Overnight or weekend trips are feasible, but any longer than that it would be a case of turning your undies inside out for a second wear. For checked baggage, there are fees for the number of bags, and for overweight or oversized luggage there will be hefty fees. Some airlines will even charge you for your carry-on bags.
Tip: Never overpack, as you don't need 28 outfits with matching shoes to choose from! Check the airline policies on luggage, from bag weight to the number of bags allowed as per your ticket, before arriving at the airport with an overflowing luggage trolley. If traveling with a family, share your luggage space to minimize baggage costs. Choose airlines that give you a carry-on allowance for free. Remember, most airlines will check that your carry-on luggage is within their limits when boarding the plane.
Priority Boarding Fees—several airlines offer this service. If you pay extra, you can be the first (or amongst the first) to step onto the plane, allowing you time to make sure you have space overhead for your carry-on luggage.
Tip: Unless you are deemed to need this service, such as in a wheelchair, why do you need it? If incapacitated in some way, the airlines will put you on first. The plane won't leave without you—unless you aren't at the boarding gate to start with. Does it really matter if your carry-on is a few seats down from where you are sitting? The bag will still arrive when you arrive at your destination. This is one fee that can be totally avoided.
Note: Airlines' advertising of cheap fares has become endemic, a marketing ploy designed to make you go 'wow' as your eyes light up at the prospect of flying off into the yonder on an adventure. The extra fees very quickly add up, and in some cases, they may add a further 66% to that initial fare offered.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
