8 Crappiest Things Airlines Are Doing to You

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Booking an overpriced ticket isn't enough: Airlines now charge extra for everything imaginable. Carry-on bags, snacks, blankets ... no amenity, however small, is safe from added fees. Remember when flying was a luxurious affair with free meals and terrific customer service? We don't ...

With all the surprise fees—not to mention interminable delays and overbooking—it's no surprise that four of the 18 worst companies for customer satisfaction were major airlines last year. So much for it being as much about the journey as the destination.

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And the extra fees add up: The global airline industry was predicted to make more than $22 billion in extra fees last year. Find out which airlines are the worst for your wallet: Click on the slide show below.

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  • Matthew Healy

     Such ripoffs are why my wife and I fly Southwest unless we are going to a place where Southwest does not fly.

    • Kate Y.

      I greatly favor Southwest for many reasons. But even they present pitfalls to be aware of. Ever had fares rise suddenly in the middle of an online research session? Watch them go back down when you clear your cookies. Saved me $200 once.

      Wise to do this for any airline.

    • Matt King

      Lining up and having to grab your own seat is a terrible way to treat a business traveler.  And many companies won’t reimburse for Business Select, or whatever they call it.

      They say “Welcome to Southwest, where you have the freedom to choose your own seat.”  That only applies to the first person on the plane.  The choices rapidly diminish, until your one of the poor slobs who has to choose which center seat to pick.  I hate Southwest.

  • Su

    Lets face it most people that plan vacations could ship their belongs to their destinations there are a number of cargo companies….just plan it. Many of these same people rent cars so go pick it up or have it delivered. I cant see most of us not flying but “I” for one will not give the airlines any more money than for  my (body). Business class travelers have your company pay for the shiping as a business expense they can right it off on taxes. Now than for the last minute traveler —you are stuck paying all that extra cash–sorry no idea’s for your group.
    I have always believed that airlines should have video’s to play to help parents teach  little ones how to clear their ears–AS ADULTS we know how painful it can be when our ears dont clear now times that with fear of not understanding!
    If parents are charged for babies on laps why are’nt obese people charged for their extra weight? This  question is in no way meant be to hurtful—-just trying to show the insanity!!!!

    Now this truly is the way I travel pack only what is needed and before I return from my destination I give my clothing away to local charities. Of course, not many of you could or would travel like this but I have found it to help in many ways.

    Good luck to all– happy travels and most of all TAKE BACK YOUR POWER!!!! TAKE A STAND AND CHANGE YOU OWN WAY…IT JUST MAY MAKE THEM CHANGE THEIRS!!!

    • Cattle Class Flyer

      Companies nowdays do not fly their employees “business class”. Their policy is to fly “cattle class” to try & lower their costs. I have to fly all over the world in discounted economy and then I’m expected to attend customer meetings. Once upon a time, flyng cattle class was barely acceptable. Not any more !

    • dungarvin

      one of the sickest postings i ever read

  • Su

    Oh I forgot about —  carry on a fruit, a sweater and inflatable mini pillows.
    arm youself with the little comforts!

    TO  HARSH INDIVIDUALS –that have posted please–dont be pumped up about your good fortunes about having a job and the money to travel! Calling people POOR SLUBS….. is in very poor taste and as times get more difficult you could find yourself in the very same posititon. If you can  think about what you would do if your job ended, you reach the max on unemployment, savings are ran down and you have a terminally ill  parent across the country? Not sure if you can think like that but do try–if not for all of us at lest for your own family and friends.

  • Su

    Oh I forgot about —  carry on a fruit, a sweater and inflatable mini pillows.
    arm youself with the little comforts!

    TO  HARSH INDIVIDUALS –that have posted please–dont be pumped up about your good fortunes about having a job and the money to travel! Calling people POOR SLUBS….. is in very poor taste and as times get more difficult you could find yourself in the very same posititon. If you can  think about what you would do if your job ended, you reach the max on unemployment, savings are ran down and you have a terminally ill  parent across the country? Not sure if you can think like that but do try–if not for all of us at lest for your own family and friends.

  • Eurotrader

    We stopped flying Ryanair a long time ago because of this type of crap. Where possible consumers need to be more selective when buying their tickets and opt to fly with carriers offering better value for money. We tend to eat before traveling, carry our own snacks, etc. to avoid being ripped off by various carriers. If enough passengers vote with their feet and wallets some of these rip-off carriers will be forced to rescend some of these charges. At end of day cheap isn’t always best and you often get what you pay for – or less.

  • src84

    Although I appriciate each persons experience is different and not all airline, or crew for that matter are the most helpful. I am also very aware that the airport experience is VERY stressful, there are people who work in the industry that take pride in their jobs and still work very hard to try and ensure that customer service is excellent.

    I work as cabin crew, and although when our jobs are described to people it may sound like a piece of cake it really isn’t. Nearly everything we ask of you isn’t because we like making your experience horrible, its because we have to by CAA (or FAA) LAW!

    Infants on lap? We are told by the governing bodies that this is the ONLY safe way for infants when the seatbelt sign is on. Blankets on laps for landing/take off – if you need to get up in a hurry not only could you trip yourself up, but also the passengers in the row with you and behind you. There are many more expamples like this, that yes won’t effect you on a normal flight, however we don’t plan emergency, we can only plan FOR them, everytime we take-off and land, thats what your crew are doing!

    Charging for everything – I don’t agree with all of it, however – i don’t have a choice, I charge you or I risk losing my job.

    Yes some crew are not nice and can be rude and sarcastic. However most of us love our jobs, and we want to help and make sure flying experience as comfortable and pleasent as possible, however have you ever tried being nice to a rude, grumpy person that can’t even cover the basics such as ‘hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank-you’? Its hard going!

    Please bear in mind the old saying ‘treat people as you’d like to be treated, just because your a few miles higher up than usual, poking somone in the back/side/bum to get their attention isn’t acceptable, you wouldn’t do it in your office/place of work.

    I will bend over backwards to help someone that appricaites that I am human, I can only do so much, and if I’ve run out of lemonade its not as a personal slight to you, it because at 35’000ft I cant just pop to the local supermarket to restock!

  • power4things

    Move forward to the cabin with the wide seats.  You’ll find all these little irritations are replaced by friendly smiles and coffee in china cups.  You get what you pay for.  Costs too much?  Apparently, not for everyone … at least get elite FF status, it’s almost as good …

  • Hickory

    Yes, the airlines are treating us horribly.  But you get what you pay for.  How many of us ALWAYS choose the cheapest fare?  This is what drives down the service.  How many of us will pay the first-class fare for a wider seat, legroom, free baggage, etc.  If you want better service, be willing to pay for it.

  • JPW

    Not only are baby fees a great thing, they should be increased. One baby makes every other person on the flight miserable, devaluing everyone’s tickets. Charge baby-bringers double or even triple and spare my ears the misery of wailing in a closed environment.

    • Steve

      Let me guess you don’t have kids  ? Never was a kid ?

      • Philpolk555

        JPW is right.  Kids on planes make it awful for everybody.  Charging an additional $1,000 per child is a great idea.  Phil

      • Philpolk555

        JPW is right.  Kids on planes make it awful for everybody.  Charging an additional $1,000 per child is a great idea.  Phil

      • Jane

        Ah, let the breeder bingo begin!  And yes, I was a kid, and yes, my parents learned the hard way NOT to bring a child younger than 5 on a plane unless it was absolutely necessary (I have a voice that carries.  Always have.).

    • Regina Harris

      actually your’re right —– your point was perfect !!!!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/hansindia Hans de Zwart

      i guess you have a little half year old brother or sister and got annoyed because it means that your parents attention is now shared between the two of you :[-)your vocabulary and grammar though are impressive compared to your lack of compassion

  • Robert

    you fly – you take yoor chance!

  • Robert

    you fly – you take yoor chance!

  • Sk

    I work for a major airline and although fees such as paying for a pillow may seem inconvenient, if airlines did not change extra for those fees the price of the ticket would go up.
    With soaring fuel prices airlines only barely break even on each flight. The number one cost for airlines is fuel – since airlines started changing for checked baggage more and more people carry on their bags – causing a stressful boarding experience and full overhead bins. People do not realize how the weight of their baggage affects the fuel cost of the flight. Either we can charge for the extras and if you want extra amenities and luggage you can pay for them, or the cost for all tickets goes up.
    The number one cost for airlines is fuel – since airlines started changing for checked baggage more and more people carry on their bags – causing a stressful boarding experience and full overhead bins. People do not realize how the weight of their baggage affects the fuel cost of the flight. Either we can charge for the extras and if you want extra amenities and luggage you can pay for them, or the cost for all tickets goes up.
    In response to 10% fee for lap children- the fee is for taxes – not a fare. Each person in and out of a country needs to pay customs/taxes.
    In an ideal world flying would be as it was 40 years ago where meals were served on every flight, where people dressed up instead of wearing pj’s and flying was an experience to look forward to.  However time have changed and air travel is now mass transit and if you want to pay only $300 to fly from NYC to LA – do not expect to have the red carpet rolled out.

    • Foobaz

      “paying for a pillow may seem inconvenient, if airlines did not change extra for those fees the price of the ticket would go up.”  Using that logic the airline should charge you for using the bathroom.  And there should be a separate charge for each piece of toilet paper you use.  And then another charge for soap.  Ridiculous?  The ticket  should include these things?  Yes, just like the ticket should include at least *one* checked bag and a pillow.

      • guest

        Not ridiculous, in the least. Comparing bathroom which is needed to a pillow which is comfort is like apples to oranges. I can see being mad at airlines if they were making a lot of money off of charges, but they are not.

      • someone who flies a lot

        If I am a business man who flies to St. Louis 4 times a week, and I have no luggage, why should I have to pay the same as someone who is visiting Aunt Ruth once a summer and is bringing 4 bags with them? My ticket is X and this persons ticket with 4 bags is X. Is that equal? No, no, no, charge Ms. 4 pieces more than me please!

    • fly no more

      Gee, I couldn’t care less about the cost of flying coast to coast.  I already live half way across the country, and the cost of flying is always higher to subsidize the people on the coast.  The VERY WORST is the absolute rudeness and sarcastic behavior of the “flight attendants.”  I doubt that it occurs to them that we the customer pays their salary, or that a drop in our attendance on their airline, means less money for them.  
         I remember when the stewardesses wouldn’t consider being rude, especially to kids, when adults with small children were gently reminded to give their child a drink on the way up, and the way down, to help pop ears.  A couple of weeks ago, I was told “It’s not my job to tell that woman how to help her baby.”  
         Flying is the most uncomfortable way to travel in the U.S.  The airlines like to say it’s all for our safety.  Oh yeah.  I wish we had the option of high speed trains, like they so in so much of the world.  But then the powers that be would probably forget that they need to stop in the midwest.  Instead of being able to take four hours to fly from St. Louis to Chicago, because of all the wasted time at the airport, it would take two hours.
         Flying use to be fun.  Today it is the worst part of a trip.  It takes NO extra money for employees to be considerate.  Flight attendants have no problem ignoring their customers, telling them they are too fat, or being obnoxious.  Unfortunately the customer in this industry, has no rights, or recourse.  Overbooking when tickets are nonrefundable?  Hmmmm.  Money gauging? Yup!

      • Lu

        You really have no idea what a FA goes through on a daily basis dealing with rude customers.  I smiled and bit my lips on a daily basis to many rude customers. I can recall so many kind ones though and  that sure helped us to get through each day.  I made just barely above minimum wage, and even at that, our wages didn’t start untill the plane pushed back away from the gate and stopped once we arrived at a gate. My heart went out to so many children, toddlers and senior citizens who were treated so horribly by their own families.. I still get teary eyed remembering many of those incidents I witnessed. I also volunteered to do Military charters.. which changes you, and your heart forever. Taking our military overseas into the worst of places, and bringing some of them home..and watching as they kiss the ground as they exit the plane..”home”, made me a teary eyed flight attendant who can never thank them enough for their service.  It was an honor being able to serve them briefly.. and I was proud to be a Flight Attendant and able to help make some children’s and senior citizens, and some terminal patients flights a little safer and brighter… sorry some of you people were so unhappy with your flights, but I promise I never got rich on any of them.  Best wishes, and fly safe.  

      • someone who flies a lot

        what kind of moronic comment is this? now you need someone else to pop your babies ears? if you can’t do it then what? the airline had better do it? if you took Amtrak would you demand that the ticket takers pop your babies ears?

  • Barry

    Most airlines in first class serve meals on domestic flights but stopped serving special meals. That irritates me the most, I would even pay for the extra cost.

    • Catia_constructor

      Get your Burger before you fly!!!

  • http://profiles.google.com/skipperdogg billy meyer

    yes i was a kid and no i don’t have any, all kiddies should have their own seat – even if spending most the time on someone’s lap.  this gives others a bit of a buffer from the noise and smells and since babies come with huge stollers and aseeminly endless luggage, the extra under seat storage is needed.   i say full charge. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/hansindia Hans de Zwart

      i guess you have a little half year old brother or sister and got annoyed because it means that your parents attention is now shared between the two of you :[-)

      your vocabulary and grammar though are impressive compared to your lack of compassion 

  • Nurse

    Maybe the next time an airline employee goes to the doctor they should be charged for the convenience of a gown to wear, and the rubber gloves each nurse and doctor must use to treat them.  They could also pay extra if they want the receptionist to make a follow up appointment, and don’t forget to bring in your own sterile cup with a lid for your trip to the bathroom.  That would cost extra too.  These are add-ons not covered by your insurance, because your insurance is the “fuel” that gets you from the beginning of your appointment to the completion of your appointment.  And yes, if you are the cause of others having their appointments run late because of your emergency, (overbooking), you pay extra for that too.
    Oh yes, if you are over weight, or come to the appointment not dressed to the nines to be frisked at the door,  oh well, you are fair game to be told you’re fat, your skirt is too short, etc.  Just imagine what other ways other businesses could have if they just became as “creative” as the airlines.  And for those wondering how anyone would know where they work, well just check who’s paying for the insurance.

    • Lu

      It’s not the employees packing their pockets with all those ridiculous fees. You can bet it’s the big wigs of the Airlines that are  getting millions in bonus’s.

    • guest

      apples to oranges. your argument makes no sense.

      • Robert

        a very intelligent comment …. thankyou .. (I wish I’d written what you did!)

    • Dunham

      What you don’t seem to understand is that all Doctors do charge for these things, it is just included into the price.  Airlines Used to do that as well. All of the “luxury” items you think you used to get for free, were NEVER free.  As stated in another comment, WE, the consumer, asked for discount airfare.  That is exactly what we get.  The model is currently such that you only get charged if you use a service.  I fly a minimum of once per month.  I only carry enough to fit in a carry-on ( a true carry-on not a large suitcase you think you might be able to get in the overhead!)  If it doesn’t fit, I don’t carry it.  Because I do not check a bag, I do not pay for the service!  It is actually a more transparent way of running the airline.  I know exactly what I am paying for, where as before you paid for a service wether you used it or not.

    • someone who flies a lot

      Listen, people buy a ticket to a baseball game and spend the same amount as a ticket on Southwest. At the game they probably spend 5 or so hours in a tiny seat far in the nosebleeds and of course they are probably in a middle seat. If they were late buying the tickets then they probably are separate from their family. Drinks are not included. Peanuts are not included. No one is giving you a pillow. They know better than to ask for a free upgrade to box seats, they gotta pay for that. But no one at the game is complaining!!! They know a hot dog costs $7. They know a beer costs $10. It’s not included in the ticket price!! It never was!!!

      They got rid of economy class chicken dinners on airlines 10 years ago! Move on!

  • I_Love_AmericanAirlines

    My first question is what do you have against American Eagle (Airlines), which is a feeder airlines or regional carrier for American Airlines.  You pointed out two “problems” and both were directed at American Eagle.  I fly American Eagle four times each and every week from DFW to smaller cities in Texas and surrounding states and have NEVER had a problem;  not one time with a lost bag nor with being bumped from a flight.  Your first “crappy thing” which you claimed that American Eagle did was bump passengers.  Believe it or not there are passengers out there who actually like to be bumped because they enjoy receiving the vouchers.  You figure you gave for passengers bumped by American Eagle was less .2 of 1%.  Most hospitals could not measure up to this figure.  This is a very very good figure.  The second figure you gave pertained to lost (or delayed) baggage.  The airlines as a total lose or delay well under 2% and most are delivered soon after the next arriving flights so that old saw about my bag was lost just does not hold water. 

    About children on flights.  I tend to roll my eyes when I get upgraded to first class and see a child there because many parents these days simply do not control their children.  When I was a child in the late 60′s I was behaved because I knew there would be consequences if I was not.  Today many, certainly not most but many, parents seem to think that the people around the find it “cute” to see their little offspring being loud and rude.  I understand that children will be this way some times but the parent needs to put a stop to it fast.  In my experience most children on planes tend to be well-behaved it only takes one to disrupt and entire cabin and that is the reason I hate to see children in first class.  Of course, I did not charter the plane and can’t dictate by whom I sit but I have given up a first class upgrade on which I found myself next to a child to move to the back in order to be away from a child.

    Lastly, airprices are cheap, cheap, cheap when compared to inflation.  It used to be that traveling by air was fun and the service was great but we get what we pay for.  I travel extremely often (several hundred flights per year both on American Airlines and American Eagle) so I am paying for upgrades, etc (free checked baggages, free upgrades, free drinks, free meals,  priority boarding and priority through security).  The airline problems with customer service began with deregulation (thank you Mr Carter) and grew worse after 911.  If you want good service and a good attitude we need to pay for it and currently we don’t.  Frequently it is cheaper, much cheaper, to fly than it is to take the bus.  Flying is a luxury and, as defined, luxuries are for those who can afford them.  Flying is not a right guaranteed in the Constitution.  If you can’t afford to fly then stay at home or drive someplace nearby. 

    Thank you.

    • Papf

      well,this is typicall usa midclass arrogant thinking,behavior
      all this is about making money,reducing till the customer changes his consumingbehavior.
      This is the only way a n airline will change its politics concerning the passengers.

  • I_Love_AmericanAirlines

    My first question is what do you have against American Eagle (Airlines), which is a feeder airlines or regional carrier for American Airlines.  You pointed out two “problems” and both were directed at American Eagle.  I fly American Eagle four times each and every week from DFW to smaller cities in Texas and surrounding states and have NEVER had a problem;  not one time with a lost bag nor with being bumped from a flight.  Your first “crappy thing” which you claimed that American Eagle did was bump passengers.  Believe it or not there are passengers out there who actually like to be bumped because they enjoy receiving the vouchers.  You figure you gave for passengers bumped by American Eagle was less .2 of 1%.  Most hospitals could not measure up to this figure.  This is a very very good figure.  The second figure you gave pertained to lost (or delayed) baggage.  The airlines as a total lose or delay well under 2% and most are delivered soon after the next arriving flights so that old saw about my bag was lost just does not hold water. 

    About children on flights.  I tend to roll my eyes when I get upgraded to first class and see a child there because many parents these days simply do not control their children.  When I was a child in the late 60′s I was behaved because I knew there would be consequences if I was not.  Today many, certainly not most but many, parents seem to think that the people around the find it “cute” to see their little offspring being loud and rude.  I understand that children will be this way some times but the parent needs to put a stop to it fast.  In my experience most children on planes tend to be well-behaved it only takes one to disrupt and entire cabin and that is the reason I hate to see children in first class.  Of course, I did not charter the plane and can’t dictate by whom I sit but I have given up a first class upgrade on which I found myself next to a child to move to the back in order to be away from a child.

    Lastly, airprices are cheap, cheap, cheap when compared to inflation.  It used to be that traveling by air was fun and the service was great but we get what we pay for.  I travel extremely often (several hundred flights per year both on American Airlines and American Eagle) so I am paying for upgrades, etc (free checked baggages, free upgrades, free drinks, free meals,  priority boarding and priority through security).  The airline problems with customer service began with deregulation (thank you Mr Carter) and grew worse after 911.  If you want good service and a good attitude we need to pay for it and currently we don’t.  Frequently it is cheaper, much cheaper, to fly than it is to take the bus.  Flying is a luxury and, as defined, luxuries are for those who can afford them.  Flying is not a right guaranteed in the Constitution.  If you can’t afford to fly then stay at home or drive someplace nearby. 

    Thank you.

  • Craig

    This was one of the silliest, most uninformed articles on air travel I’ve read in recent years.   Most of the rants were specific to two minor carriers (Spirit & American Eagle), and frankly the remaining ones are the result of the *consumer*, and not the *airline*.  Consumers demanded a discount airline fare model, and the airlines complied and gave it to us without increasing fare prices in the wake of 3x-4x fuel prices in the last decade.  Where did consumers think that shortfall was going to be made up?

    As far as blankets/pillows go, where does the author get off singling out JetBlue as some mold infested carrier?  It’s the *consumer* who comes aboard with a lice infested cranium that contaminates the pillow, not the overhead bins.  For my sake, I’d rather bring aboard a $10 inflatable headrest that I know where it’s been and I can launder the cover easily vs. wondering what hygenically-challenged passenger used it before me.

  • Rod

    I live in South America (Paraguay).  What I don’t understand is why airlines in the US charge extra for snacks, blankets, booked luggage, carryons, etc. when regional airlines in South America such as TAM offer full service such a great full meals and drinks (including alcoholic beverages such as wine), blankets, pillows, 2 booked luggage allowed free, no charge for carryon, all for free to all including those flying coach.  I fly from Asuncion to Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo which are relatively short routes and never paid extra for anything.  How is it that here the airlines can offer these services for free and still make a profit and in the US they can’t?  TAM even has brand new planes (Airbus) with LED screens and movies on each seat for longer routes. 

    • BetterThanABroom

      Take a look at their prices and compare to those in the US for traveling the same distance.  They are MUCH higher in Latin America and the rest of the world than they are here.   If I buy a first class ticket all of these things are included…at a cost.    If people want the luxuries they need to stop complaining and pay for it. 

  • Stevie66

    Folks need to get educated about these sites.  They are not designed to provide any useful information.  They only serve as an advertising platform for sometimes dozens of products.  If you look carefully, most of these yahoo and similar redirects all look and feel a little similar.  All the links are advertising, even the ones that look like ‘articles’. 

    • Genigets1

      This is not news to anybody as far as I know. I think we all know there is a price to pay for everything. You don’t have to buy, so I don’t see this as a disadvantage. Please enighten me if I am wrong about this. Then you would really be contributing something.

    • Jennifer

      This is the last of these sites I’m looking at. Soooo annoying. They could list all eight things on one page but oh…no….they want to make you look at advertising on each page. Totally interested in their advertising, no useful information at all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Trevor-Hunt/1825190718 Trevor Hunt

    If you hate flying cattle class and need a Helium sniffing laugh then try my Gasbags comedy site:  http://www.hybridblimp.net

  • http://www.facebook.com/oshma1963 Mary O’Shaughnessy

    It would be easier and cheaper to ship your clothes via UPS, if you can pack a week in advance. Under $20 for a ten-pound box cross country.

    • Anonymous

      And, it’s much more likely to arrive there…just make sure who accepts on the other end.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002257606825 Kolin DeShazo

    To the lady Mrs. Mary O’Shaughnessy. Someone tried to do that once. They arrested him for some BS charge. I’m sure you can google it! It was quite entertaining

  • Marianrockwood

    Stop complaining about the airlines.  As a frerquent traveler, I have witnessed horrible behavior by fellow travelers.  The people that work at airlines are subjected to abuse and ridicule on a daily basis due to weather delays and other things out of their control.  These airlines struggle financially because people want to fly cheap.  They need to make money somewhere to pay for the fuel for pete’s sake. 

    • M8R-3ayxuy

      I do not complain about the fees.

      I do, however, have a right to be upset by the inconsiderate, rude, unprofessional treatment I am regularly subjected to by the “the people that work at airlines,” am I not? That’s okay with you, isn’t it?

      Or is that also not permissible?

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4P6BFJEPMA6A2QSUZNS3P55WYI DB

        I strongly suspect that if you are treated rudely, unprofessionally or inconsiderately it is because of the way you treat the airline workers… I travel a lot and they are very pleasant and helpful to me and others that I observe…  so behave yourself..

  • http://hunnerwoof.com/ HunnerWoof

    Regarding #2…are you serious? You can’t “accidentally or unknowingly” purchase an add on (especially an upgrade to C class) when you have to pay for it by swiping a card. Give me a break.

    • Earl

      Since you start the process by swiping your card to prove your identity…yes, you can.

      • http://hunnerwoof.com/ HunnerWoof

        Nope. There is not a single airline kiosk out there that will use your initial card swipe to process a payment for additional services. Any upsell is paid for with an additional swipe. There is no way to buy something unintentionally. 

        It’s plenty easy to ADD something to your “cart” so to speak without intending to, but if you buy it, it’s because you chose to.

  • Gabe

    Charging parents to bring their screaming infant into a confined space with 160 other people doesn’t really sound like a crappy thing to do for us. In fact, it sounds quite nice. Certainly sounds nicer than the screaming infant…

  • Jay

    I know.  How about an additional 59 cents added to the cost of my ticket, and I can have my tiny bag of pretzels back?  The 8 dollar snacks are pathetic. I now bring my own. Seriously. And my own sweater, entertainment, etc.  All the selling has become such a carnival, that next trip I am also bringing a noise suppression headset and an eye mask for sleeping. Last time I flew, I was in first class, and it was worse, with all the running back and forth, carrying each service item by hand. I was a nervous wreck by the time we reached the hub. The carriers have forgotten, I think, that they provide transportation, and are not hawkers in a street bazaar.  I think it would be more efficient if we were given the chance to purchase an option to have the formerly free services for – say $10 – blankets, Parmesan cheese spread and small salami slices, etc, when we book the tickets.  Less muss less fuss.   If someone else wants to buy all the additional services, more power to them.

    • Anonymous

      YES…I bring my own snacks (and my dog’s), too.  They’ve tried to poison me before.  NOT fun. I wouldn’t touch their crappy pillows on any airlines , even if first class., either. I just get a crick in my neck and live with it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Doug-Eldridge/1385678584 Doug Eldridge

    Slide shows? Is it 1996 already?

  • Scottvtm

    How about the 8 crappiest AOL articles for no apparent reason?  Does Obama hate the arilines like he does banks and oil companies? Is that why we are attacking them?

    You people are riculous…

  • Scottvtm

    How about the 8 crappiest AOL articles for no apparent reason?  Does Obama hate the arilines like he does banks and oil companies? Is that why we are attacking them?

    You people are riculous…

    • Anonymous

      obviously you don’t fly…

    • Spunboy7

      you are a fool. you cant possibly support or defend either oil or banks. theres nothing you can say that youd actually believe. but youd support them just because of your hate for obama? get some help…seriously. and read a book, you need to educate yourself.

      • Richallb

        That’s right.  Put all the US banks and oil companies out of business.  I want to see all citizens of america living in the woods without shelter and having to kill their own food to eat.  With all the laws being passed to “protect the environment” and “laws of protectionism” against anything bad that could happen, we are making it impossible for companies to operate in America.  So, they go elsewhere.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4P6BFJEPMA6A2QSUZNS3P55WYI DB

        I suppose you think it’s evil that you use gas in an automobile since you are then helping the evil oil company.. or it’s evil if you use a credit card, or have a mortgage since you are supporting an evil bank…. or that it’s evil if you use electricity to run your computer since it’s made with oil and you are supporting the evil oil company… so why don’t you boycott the evil oil and banking companies and not use any electricity, never get on a powered vehicle, airplane, or boat and never eat anything that was grown using a tractor or brought on a truck or that needed credit from a bank to provide you the services….   You are the fool supporting and defending oil companies and banks by existing in this country, and you should be damn glad that they provide all the things you use every single day to let fools like you have the ability to live and to make comments on-line!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dwain

    If You are flying from the USA to central and parts of South America try Taca.They let You take 2 70# bags and 20# carry on for no extra charge and I just booked a flight that was $200.00 less than the nearest competion!

    • Jessie1949

      yeap we might not always agree on things but hey lets face it most (but not all) forgneers have more pride in what they do or have,, as airlines and cars ect. then the ones in the united states and i love the good old usa

    • Jessie1949

      yeap we might not always agree on things but hey lets face it most (but not all) forgneers have more pride in what they do or have,, as airlines and cars ect. then the ones in the united states and i love the good old usa

  • Anonymous

    The VERY crappiest thing that airlines do,,,Delta and American I can specifically name…is charge for my carry on!  My carry on, and my ONLY one, is my 7 lb. dog who never makes a peep.  Has to sit in the floor, his bag crammed under the seat in front of me.
    HIS ticket is usually more than MINE.  About 50% of the attendants are very rude.
    Had a non English speaking fellow grab the bag, insisting he was going to put him in the overhead compartment, with me fighting him all the way!
    I laugh, he pays more than me, doesn’t even get a SEAT, and they don’t offer him
    a beverage.
    THE AIRLINE THAT CATERS TO, AND DOESN’T OVER CHARGE FOR SMALL PETS IN CABIN WILL RULE THE  FINANCIAL SKIES … I DARE ONE TO STEP UP AND DO IT.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AM7TFNKFT5E2X2TXSSU2PSMC6E alex

      take your pet and sit in first class. It is much better, your pup will get better service.

    • supergirl

      I dont know about American. Delta does not charge for carry-on’s, only checked bags. If you were charged for a carry on, other than your pet or a third bag, you got taken…hope you got a reciept. and if you’re paying less than $100 dollars for a ticket on a premier airline like Delta, let me know where to buy mine, since the pet fee is only $100…pets are not allowed in most public places because of the liability they bring, the charges cover the liabilities…if someone like me with a severe allergy and paying waaaaay more $100 for my seat, has an attack, thier sueing the airline, not you. If your pet stinks up the plane (bad lunch), the airline gets the nasty letter from me and I get compensation from them, not you. I agree that some fees are outlandish (mostly the fees imposed by the state and federal government…..which BTW makes up about 30-40% of your ticket) but some are neccesary, like the pet fee or the security fee. Someone has to help pay the TSA agents who keep us safe when we fly. I’ve been flying Delta for years.. great airline…

  • Hotmail

    Take a bus if it is so bad.  When you get there call me on your telegraph and we can laugh about the time you got chased by a dinosaur.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OOLVWWW7WUGAXRQF34FJSBEEKI Richard

    Airlines are like all corporations – they’re out for a buck and they don’t give a damn about you. The only reason they show any courtesy or consideration is that they’re afraid you’ll go somewhere else, and if there’s nowhere else to go, tough luck for you. Unfortunately, those employees who are courteous and caring generally succumb to the pressure put on them by the greedy weasels they work for. Get used to it.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4P6BFJEPMA6A2QSUZNS3P55WYI DB

      And you don’t give a damn about anyone else, unless you want to get somewhere far away without walking and then you want the airlines to give a damn about you… you are simply extremely selfish…and greedy…since you don’t want to pay for any services you recieve

      • Ross1776

        This is about making added profit to pay for that high cost of fuel, due globalization and the greed of the oil industry.  Has nothing to do with “service” at all, because due to all those fees and costs there really is no “service.”  Not to mention the new “terrorism” taxes levied at all major airports so that those that buy the airlines services, now are paying to be searched and their property seized under federal law.

        Ludicrous….and definitely not “American,” at all since adding all those fees in addition to the price of your ticket is nothing more than another tax passed on by these major airlines and corporate giants to the public.

        • Thomas

          Unfortunately, I do think you believe that. Fortunately, people can learn that what they may ‘want’ to believe is not in fact correct. Hopefully ego will not inhibit this process. Fuel prices are paid from ticket prices directly as is fair because passengers are using virtually the same amount of fuel while on board the aircraft. Services whether by their delivery, support (including repair, training of service personnel) and implementation are not all directly used by each passenger. I find it a bit greedy of a fellow passenger to expect me to subsidize his/her use of any service if I do not use the service. You can easily find the pricing structure of airline fees and tickets — they are not very secret. You can easy determine what fees and services are built into the ticket prices (such as maintenance on such services — not delivery). I think you are a bit political and perhaps a bit harsh on the users of airlines. Perhaps you think users of such services are ignorant at best or inherently stupid at worst. I think any reasonable educated person can clearly understand what is allowed on airlines and what is not. It can be found on EVERY airline website. Your possessions do not have to be ‘confiscated’ if you take the time to read AND follow the rules. Many of us do that BEFORE we get to the airport. If I disagree with them I do not fly and I do not go to the airport to complain about what I already know (or should). On searches, you elect to possibly being searched by going on a flight. This has been in place for the last 30 years (or more dependent on the country). You HAVE choices, what you chose has a certain logical set of rules which are required to be followed if you expect the delivery of those services. While the logic of those rules may not apply to your intent to only fly, they do apply to your reasonable expectation of safety while flying. Unfortunately, many do not like to follow rules and only realize the logic of those rules when they in fact need them.

      • Jessie1949

        well you must be part of the airlines if you can say that, they are getting carried away charging for every little thing and yet not everyone gets a vacation because of money yet you guys just keep thinking of ways to make it even harder ,,,some people really need and deserve a vacation but they won’t get one,,,,of course you will huh

        • Thomas

          Jessie, actually I CAN afford more now BECAUSE of the airline fees. The ticket prices have dropped and I NO LONGER have to subsidize an in flight movie (which I do not use), I no longer have to subsidize bags of peanuts or chips or whatever is being served (which I do not want), I no longer have to subsidize passengers who bring 80 pounds of luggage as apposed to my 10, I no longer have to subsidize people who insist on bringing carry on luggage because they can not be bothered to wait at the luggage counter. In fact I am PAYING for exactly what I get and USE now. I find I can afford much more and I also find I have many MORE choices as to how I spend my money on the services of the airlines. The biggest problem in all of this is the concept of ‘free’. You NEVER got any of these services for free. They were figured into the ticket price (a net higher price) and paid by all flyers irregardless of their usage of the services.

      • Jessie1949

        well you must be part of the airlines if you can say that, they are getting carried away charging for every little thing and yet not everyone gets a vacation because of money yet you guys just keep thinking of ways to make it even harder ,,,some people really need and deserve a vacation but they won’t get one,,,,of course you will huh

    • Foreign Stewardesses

      Actually, not all are like that.  I travel around the globe for my company and I’ve found that Emirates airways, and Singapore Airlines are great.  Fantastic looking flight attendants, great service and food, and kindness, as opposed to our geriatric crew on American carriers who are cranky, cranky, and more cranky.  I have tons of miles on US carriers and am trying to use them all and then move to foreign carriers.  But, one thing that US Carriers do better, frequent flyer programs.  That’s about it.

  • Ron

    Flying sucks anyhow.  They treat you like criminals and you have to take off your shoes and walk around on the dirty floor.  Cant park more than a micro second if front of the terminal or a security guard comes out of nowhere to yell at you. They sneak extra fees in at you all the time.  I just stopped doing it.  Bought an RV and I plan my trips out.  This method saves me no money and it takes longer but a crazy thing happened.  I enjoy traveling more now.  Not all people can do this I know due to work requirements but when it comes time to take a trip we dont fly there we drive. 

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BR2UYPUFZWMM5B5PGAAAY3HHXU Mr

      i hear you! i only fly when i have to,but i totally hate it.i dread it for a week before i leave and i dread it the whole time im gone,until i get home

  • Anonymous

    Another good reason NOT to fly.  A lot of people that are flying could probably get by with driving, so why don’t they?  The few times I’ve flown, which are very few, I’ve seen whole families with 2 or 3 children flying.  We could never afford to fly with out 3 kids.  That’s why we bought a station wagon!  Either these people make tons more money than we ever did, or they’re deeply in debt.  It will be a cold day in you know where before I ever step foot on another plane.

    • Jvanderpol47

      obviously you are very poor. it is very cheap to fly these days. i think you live in a trailer park

      • Anonymous

        Nope, not poor, live in 1800 sq. ft brick farm home, been here 44 years.
        I can afford to fly, just choose not to, more fun to travel by our rv and see the country.

        • Thomas

          I would have to question the ‘responsibility’ and logic of your claims. I think its an odd claim to make on many levels. First, safety. Your children are safer on a airline than on a highway. You can apply and erroneous logic to that claim but statistics are statistics. This becomes an even bigger issues, statistically, if you drive over eight hours per day. Driving eight hours per day, in an even traffic free environment, only would allow you about 400 miles of travel. So you expend 8 hours of your time (you will have to calculate the worth of your time) to get to a destination of only about 400 miles. Using current gas prices and the average fuel use of a station wagon you would expend about 130-150 (USD) in fuel costs (not inclusive of wear and tear on your vehicle). The price for an airline ticket would be about 150 per person. So for a family of 5 the cost of airline travel would be 750 (USD). The dollar savings (for these factors alone) would be 600 (USD). So if safety of you and your children and the ‘price’ of your time is not a fundamental consideration you can indeed save $600 by driving for 8 hours instead of flying for 2 hours (inclusive of early arrival time). This savings is limited to a maximum trip of 400 miles. The savings tend to evaporate if you go further as gas and hotel expenses would then apply. I would suggest you not claim to not be able to afford to fly in your first posting then saying in fact you can afford to fly but chose not to. The premise is very different.

          • http://belle-brita.tumblr.com/ belle_brita

            I’m dying to know where you’ve been able to find round-trip fare anywhere for less than $250…

  • M & M

    just everyone stop flying for one week and see what happens. Someone will give in and start offering all these services for free

    • Thomas

      This amounts to either an under though out rant or an adult temper tantrum. You do NOT get anything for free. The services were all ways paid for by ALL who bought tickets. So any passengers who did not use this “free’ service was still subsidizing a passenger who did use the service. What could possible cause you to believe an airline could change a basic principle of matter? You can not create something from nothing. You were paying for this service all along… now you pay for ONLY what YOU use (as far as this situation).

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BR2UYPUFZWMM5B5PGAAAY3HHXU Mr

      i only fly once or twice a yearand its because i have no other choice

    • Anonymous

      I haven’t flown since June of 2009!  I am doing my part.  Where is everyone else?

  • http://www.facebook.com/Morgnorse Jim Hutton

    its funny how people spew out of their mouths about things they have no facts to back…this is whats wrong with our world  nobody thinks before they speak or can support their facts…

    • Jibba

      Agreed.  People complain about the fees and taxes, but take this into account.  Who pays for the FAA?  I for one wouldnt be flying if there was no ATC.  Thats like driving on a road full of curves without a centerline.  Who knows whats behind the next cloud.  TSA is required, and if you feel like a criminal its probably because you feel guilty for something.  Everytime I go through I’m more than happy to oblige because I know the further they go with everyone, the safer I am.  Or you can take the train, pay twice the amount, but get good service, until you get the dining cart bill and wonder how you spent $400 in 3 days?

      • Anonymous

        Just because the FAA and TSA are required doesn’t mean they should be allowed to do horrible jobs. 

        The TSA sucks from the lowest worker to the head of the agency. The only change they’ve made since 9/11 that’s made any difference was putting security doors on the cabins. The rest has done nothing but wast time, money and resources. The TSA should be disbanded. The FAA should set security guidelines and local or state police should be used to handle security. Let real law enforcement handle security and not Walmart greeters with badges.The FAA is crazy outdated which is costing everyone huge amounts of money and lost time/productivity each year. And the amount of money and time frame they’re asking for to upgrade their systems is ridiculous.

        • Thomas

          UHMMM its a little bit broad to claim that every member of an agency  ‘sucks’. You may not like the purpose of the agency but it is more than a bit disrespectful to those who do their job well to be criticized as such by you. You offer very little in the way of facts but rather conjecture. Perhaps you are unaware of the training police officers have and the amount of money which goes into this training. The training for most officers is broad and non-specific in that it is not ‘one task’ oriented. Police officers would be wholly misused in a role that TSA serves. Furthermore, staffing issues would require the police force to be expanded (hire either officers to be “TSA ish” or hire officers to replace officers who transferred to the “TSAish” job) which would require both time and money. It seems that you continually put forward ‘solutions’ which are ill thought out and very expensive while you complain about the lack of ‘freebies’ the two are no very congruent.

  • Geoffrey Atkinso

    How about flying folks across country in regional jets?

  • Guy Noir

    This is what tit feels like to have the airline lobby around our collective testy-cules. Support high speed regional trains!

    • http://twitter.com/HarmyG Geoffrey Harm

      I doubt you know what tit feels like.

  • dcl

    And Continental charges $8 to watch tv on flights over 2 hours – and they don’t pay for hotels when they’ve caused you to miss your connection.

    • Thomas

      If ‘they’ cause you to miss your connection then I think you have a claim. However, the public seem to attribute delays caused by air traffic controls, weather and any number of ‘acts of nature’ or acts by external causes to be the responsibility of the airlines. I think people became accustomed to attributing responsibility to the airlines that were not in fact their responsibility. If you drove in a car to your destination and your car failed and you missed your hotel reservation I do not think it would be as ‘instinctual’ to call the car manufacturer and request them to pay for your missed hotel. Regarding entertainment, the airlines purpose is to get you from one destination to the other as safely as possible. They added as ‘free’ entertainment services such as television/movies. The problem is, of course, it was never free and was paid for by all flyers whether they used the service or not, in other words if you were a user of such services you were being subsidized by non users of that service. Same for every other feature. Now you pay for everything a la cart. It is a fairer system in that someone who uses a flight to bring 100 pounds of luggage does not get subsidized by someone who brings only 10 pounds.

      • Anonymous

        If it’s not the fault of the airline but the fault of the airport then the airport should compensate you. The number of delayed or cancelled flights due to airport staff not being able to handle things like clearing snow or getting crowds through immigration and security checks in a reasonable amount of time is amazing. Or when your bags don’t get to you because baggage handlers that work for the airport screw up.

        • Thomas

          Unfortunately, it is rather hard to address your claims. Statics would be very helpful as a word like ‘amazing’ in reference to delayed or canceled flights does not tell me how many are actually caused by ‘airport error’. However, exactly who determines who’s fault it is and how much are you willing to pay for this additional service of determining responsibility ? It sounds like to me you are good at adding additional services but rather lax on your willingness to pay for them.  I am not sure what experience you have such as moving thousands of people thru terminals or snow removal or baggage handling but given your other responses and ‘attitude’ I am not sure I would like to be judged by a standard you term ‘reasonable’. Honestly, it sounds like you are far more interested in assigning blame or looking for some ‘free’ service which common sense, though it is not that common, should tell you is in fact NOT free. Still, I am not sure how you can extend responsibility to the airport legally. The roadways are designed to move traffic efficiently. In most cases they work well however if a county repair truck blocks the lanes improperly and cause you to be late for work and pay is docked, I doubt you would ‘instinctively’ think to ask the county for compensation. So my question remains why are people so inclined to desire the airlines (or now) airports to be held responsible for such things that happen far more frequently with other modes of travel?

          • KB

            At the end of the day, one simply wants to get where one is going, ontime, safely, and with all one’s luggage in tact. While we can meander around about where to lay the Blame for any number of things that can go wrong, the fact is that  airport and airlines are holding themselves out as experts in people moving and are charging hefty fees to do so. In my observation the general complaint customers have is that the expert people movers want more and more to be absolved of responsibility when things prevent customers from getting what they pay for, to be moved from point A to point B in tact. One simply has to google all the things that go wrong that have nothing to do with weather to understand that the people movers could have done better or been more vigilient.  As for nickle and diming customers there are examples of pretty ugly and petty efforts to gouge… I will only allude to one to make it brief, and that would be charging people on a plane to use the toilets.  Really, couldn’t the price be figured into the cost of the ticket?  The days of getting what you pay for sometimes seem to be long gone.

  • Anonymous

    So the $8 for a pillow and blanket is what you have to pay because Jet Blue are @ ssholes or because it doesn’t have dust mites and mold? Can I still get one with mites and mold for free?

    • Thomas

      Given your demeanor I would offer you such pillow for free…. However I am still not sure why you feel you are entitled to a ‘pillow’, can you not provide for your own ‘wants’ and bring a pillow for yourself?

  • http://twitter.com/HarmyG Geoffrey Harm

    There should be an 8 crappiest things about this article. No way am I clicking on 8 separate little thumbnails.

    • Paul Davis

      It should be titled “8 ways to increase advertisement impressions to survive down economy on the web” lol…these guys are desperate!

  • Guest

    How about, charging you extra for 5 lbs overweight baggage, but not charging the person next to you any fee even though they weigh 200 lbs more than you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1545609264 Terry McIntosh

    “Charging For Babies On Laps”

    That is outrageous.  Everyone knows those crying little crap machines belong in a kennel in the cargo area.

  • Feride

    This article goes from a few disadvantages of the airlines to random advertising, where are the 8 crappiest points? also its the airport staff that makes these decisions or limitations, not the airline

  • Jonathan Buttall

    The article forgot the most important ones; in the last decade, Airlines have been moving seats so close to each other that anyone 5 feet or taller finds the seats cramped and uncomfortable. Second place would be the surly, rude and unprofessional stewardesses. Third place would be the inedible food. 20 years ago these problems didn’t exist. I recently flew on China Airlines. While the seats were still cramped, they accommodated seat requests, something US airlines don’t anymore. The food was excellent and the staff on the plane were friendly, helpful and professional. If you can, avoid American owned airlines if you fly internationally.

    • Libby

      I remember an advertizing slogan from Western Airlines: “Three feet for your two legs.” In coach, the seats were positioned so that it measured 36 inches from any spot on one seat to the same spot on the next seat before or behind it. First Class had even more room between the seats.

  • http://thinkingparticle.com/ vishnu kumar

    this article is really useful..i had encountered these situations in past…waiting for some more helpful list like this….

  • Ewealth

    Not only the airlines -also the US Transport Security Guards,at Houston TX who caused $300 of damage by breaking open a suitcase  which had been checked at the departing airport and was in transit (by the same airline) to Vancouver BC. Of course They are better at carrying out security checks than other airports!!!!! There was of course nothing inside the case to warrant the intrusion into private belongings. During that journey I had a 3 hour wait at Houston between flights and there was ample time to call me to enable me to unlock the suitcase. Had they found any prohibited items THEY would have come charging  to the gate where I was waiting like the “Keystone Cops”
    There is a distinct difference in the mentality of the US Immigration Officers and the employees of the TSA.
    Of course their actions are covered by Section110(b) of the Aviation and Transportation Act of 2001. 49 U.S.C.44901(c)-(e).
    This means that I have to accept the damage to my luggage.
    Where is all the high tech. equipment that is available to safeguard passengers and equipment from unwelcome acts?   I need to query the re-inspection of pre-inspected luggage when there is extra employee costs to the TSA for duplication of the inspection process although there is no  course of action available to claim for damages to personal equipment.  As previously noted the mentality level of some employees is not evident! 

  • TheBauce

    the baby thing makes perfect sense because a crying baby inconveniences all other customers…but the fee should transfer into a deduction of the regular passengers ticket prices.

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