Posts tagged as:

service fees

British Airways to start charging for all advance seat assignments

by Janice Hough on September 25, 2009

Most major airlines have figured out the cash cow of selling some of their better seat assignments. Now British Airways is going them one better, by in most cases charging for all pre-assigned seating

As usual, this change is being announced as “giving you more control.” For the general public, British Airways has only pre-assigned seats for full fare tickets. All passengers travelling on discounted tickets, even discounted business class tickets, must wait until 24 hours in advance. And that option has been only available to passengers who check in online.

Starting October 7, 2009, any passenger can get a pre-assigned seat at any time, up until the online check-on opens. If they pay for it. The cost for a transatlantic flight in economy (World Traveller) or premiim economy (World Travel USD $30 each way. Passengers on discounted business class tickets will pay $90.

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How to cheat on your travel agent and keep her

by Janice Hough on September 21, 2009

OK, some of you Consumer Traveler readers don’t even use travel agents anymore. And some of you won’t go anywhere without calling your agent first. But as travel agents know, most people are somewhere in the middle

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What’s next? Airport charges when you’re not even flying

by Janice Hough on April 10, 2009

As airlines and airports seemingly are running out of new fees to charge, Luton Airport near London has hit on a new idea: charge people who aren’t even flying.

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So what will U.S. airlines start charging for next?

by Janice Hough on February 17, 2009

As we move into an era where passengers on U.S. airlines have gotten used to paying for more and more things that used to be free, one question comes to mind: what’s next?

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Why using a travel agent may be your best insurance policy

by Janice Hough on December 1, 2008

Air travel being what it is today, a good insurance policy seems like a prudent investment. But there’s another kind of travel insurance out there: a service fee to an agent who can providing money-saving advice in advance and travel assistance during travel.

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