Comments on: Happy holidays? Major U.S. carriers add holiday surcharge to fares

By: Hapgood

Hapgood — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:25:39 +0000

The next new fee will be the “Executive Compensation Fee.” The key to survival for airlines in these turbulent times is the best and brightest leaders putting out 120% to get their companies through the storm into the sunshine of profitability. To increase their leaders’ motivation and ensure dedication and retention, the Boards of Directors are giving top executives a special bonus, funded by a passenger fee since it would be inappropriate to burden shareholders with this expense.

By: DaveS

DaveS — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:49:08 +0000

I have no problem with them charging higher fares on peak dates or limiting discounted seats on those dates. But they better state the fare accurately, or face charges of fraud. The advertised fare should include everything the passenger cannot avoid paying, except for government imposed fees and taxes.

By: Arizona Road Warrior

Arizona Road Warrior — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:43:27 +0000

This is a common practice. The prices for hotel rooms are 2X, 3X, 4X and etc. higher for special events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, Kentucky Derby, Indianaplis 500 and etc.

Hotels have low, mid and high season rates…I paid $ 200 per night plus taxes and $ 54 per night plus taxes for the same room at the same hotel in Phoenix…the only difference that one stay was in January and the other stay was in July.

This is no different for the rental car companies…I have a family reunion that falls on a special event weekend and the rates are at least twice as high as the week before and after this event.

It is not bait and switch…when a fare is disclosed on an airline website, it states that fees, taxes, applicable check luggage fees and etc. are extra,

By: Bodega

Bodega — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:22:45 +0000

John is right on with this. Also, for years the airlines have had fares that would be higher at peak travel times. However, with the internet, they have to be competitive in the initial fare search. By keeping the base fare the same as their competitiors, the shopper might go to them and won’t know the actual ticket price until the final step in the purchase process. Buyer beware!

By: The truth about those controversial $10 holiday airfare charges

The truth about those controversial $10 holiday airfare charges — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:43:05 +0000

[...] Nobody on Is Southwest’s EarlyBird check-in worth $10? The answer is …Karen C. on Happy holidays? Major U.S. carriers add holiday surcharge to faresRob F on Does TSA have a political no-fly list?Kelly on A Hotwire.com refund in a flash? You must be [...]

By: Karen C.

Karen C. — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:08:41 +0000

While putting it as a surcharge may be different, making hay while the sun shines — or during high demand periods — isn’t. I was just at a highly popular trade conference in Karlsruhe, Germany. My hotel room cost 55 Euros/night on the Saturday before the show started and 184 Euros/night once it began. To me, that makes the $10 surcharge during holiday periods sound almost benign. Maybe it will make people spread out their travel — go earlier or come home later — so that everyone doesn’t try to take to the skies on the same day.

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:43:26 +0000

Janice … You might have missed another reason to use a surcharge instead of a fare increase. I believe that I read an article on here a few weeks ago that Congress is getting upset because taxes only apply to the base fare not all of the “add-ons.” As a result, the Treasury is losing out on the airline win fall from surcharges and the airlines get to keep 100% of the charges as well.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:40:15 +0000

My congressman is definitely getting an email on this one. It’s a prime example of what should be a simple fare increase, not a backdoor way for the airlines to advertise one price and then charge another – classic bait and switch.