Air Travel
So, what is the REAL cost of that airline ticket?
You go to a travel website, plug in dates and locations, and up comes the lowest fare. Don’t click yet! With airlines practically charging you for the pressurized air, extra one-way fees* can really add to your round-trip total.
We’ve done the legwork for you, looking at the top eight U.S. airlines’ services and fees for a standard domestic coach fare. Our estimated “typical extras” includes what we think most travelers expect from an airfare: one checked bag, one meal, on-board entertainment (preferably a movie), and an assigned seat (yes, one airline charges for that—and another doesn’t offer assigned seats at all!).
* All accurate as of April 2010 for most economy fares within the continental U.S. Baggage size and weight restrictions vary.
AirTran Airways
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $40-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $15 for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $25 for the second. $50 for each additional checked bag.
Food Fees: None. Cookies and pretzels are complimentary. (No meals available.)
Entertainment: Free XM radio. Wifi available via GoGo for $5 and up.
Other Extras: $5 each way for advanced seat assignment in coach; $15 for an exit row seat, which offers more legroom.
*Total reflects one checked bag and standard advanced seat assignment each way. BYO meals and movies.
American Airlines
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $70-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $25 for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $35 for the second. $100 for each additional bag.
Food Fees: $3.29 to $4 (snacks), $4 to $6 (breakfast choices), $10 (sandwiches and salads).
Entertainment: Free audio, video, and movies. $2 for headsets (or you can bring your own). Wifi available on some flights via GoGo for $6 and up.
Other Extras: $8 for an inflatable pillow/fleece blanket pack.
*Total reflects one checked bag and a meal each way.
Continental Airlines
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $62-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $25 for the first bag (up to 70 pounds), $35 for the second. $23 and $32, respectively, if checked in online. $100 for each additional bag.
Food Fees: None. Meals and snacks are complimentary.
Entertainment: Free audio and movies on some flights; $6 for DirecTV on others. $3 for headsets (but you can also bring your own).
*Total reflects one checked bag and DirecTV (the only entertainment option on flights that have it) each way.
Delta Airlines
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $82-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $25 for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $35 for the second. $23 and $32, respectively, if checked in online. $125 for third bag; $200 for bags 4 to 10.
Food Fees: $2 to $5 (snacks), $3 to $6 (breakfast), $8 to $10 (sandwiches and salads).
Entertainment: Free audio and video. $3 to $6 for on-demand movies. $2 for headsets (or you can bring your own). Wifi available on some flights via GoGo for $7 to $13.
*Total reflects one checked bag, a meal, and a movie each way.
JetBlue
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $12-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: Free for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $30 for the second. $70 for each additional bag.
Food Fees: None. Snacks are complimentary. (No meals available.)
Entertainment: Free XM radio and DirecTV. $6 for movies. $2 for headsets (or you can bring your own). Free wifi available on some flights.
Other Extras: "Even more legroom" seating available (4 extra inches) for $10, $25, $40 each way depending on length of flight. $7 for pillow and blanket travel kit.
*Total reflects one checked bag and a movie each way. BYO meals.
Southwest Airlines
Typical Round-Trip Extras: $0-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees:Free for the first two bags, $50 per piece for bags three to nine, $110 per piece for the tenth bag and beyond.
Food Fees: None. Snacks are complimentary. (No meals available.)
Entertainment: No on-board entertainment available.
Other Extras: Southwest doesn’t offer advanced seat assignments. For $10 each way, customers can purchase early-bird check-in, which allows them to board the plane in the first group.
*Total reflects one checked bag each way. BYO meals and entertainment.
United Airlines
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $68-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $25 for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $35 for the second. $23 and $32, respectively, if checked in online. $125 for the fourth and fifth bags; $200 for sixth and beyond.
Food Fees: $3 (snacks), $6 to $7 (snack boxes), $3 to $5 (breakfast) $7 to $9 (sandwiches and salads).
Entertainment: Free XM radio and programmed video. Free headsets (or you can bring your own). Wifi available on some flights via GoGo for $6 to $13.
*Total reflects one checked bag and a meal each way.
US Air
Typical Round-Trip Extras: Up to $64-plus*
Checked Baggage Fees: $25 for the first bag (up to 50 pounds), $35 for the second. $23 and $32, respectively, if checked in online. $100 for each additional bag.
Food Fees: $3 (snacks), $6 (snack boxes), $7 (sandwiches and salads).
Entertainment: No on-board entertainment. Wifi available on some flights via GoGo for $6 to $13.
Other Extras: $5-plus to reserve a “Choice Seat” in an exit row or an aisle seat toward the front of the plane. $7 for the “Power Nap Sack,” which includes a fleece blanket, inflatable neck pillow, eye shades, and earplugs.
*Total reflects one checked bag and a meal each way. BYO entertainment.
Comments
One thing I found out the hard way on Southwest...if your bag is over the 50 lb weight limit, they charge you a whopping $50. For me, that was $25 per extra pound. While I would have liked to have taken some stuff out of my 52 pound bag and put it into a carry-on, the only one I had was already stuffed to the gills.
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