I while back, I had written about Rising Airline Fees.
First it was charging for blankets, pillows and water.
Next came fees for checking a second bag. Then some went a step further and charged a fee for checking any bag.
And here we all sat wondering. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. What would the next round of fees bring?!
Well, last week the wait was over.
And I am warning you. You’d better sit down for this one.
US Airways and United will being charging a $5 fee- wait for it, wait for it- for actually paying another fee.
That’s right folks a fee on top of a fee!
And it is getting downright disgusting.
Apparently if you pay your checked bag fee on-line when you book- you are receiving the “online discount” !? Oh, excuse me if don’t jump for joy.
If you don’t pay the fee online, you are penalized and charged five bucks at the airport.
United started charging the fee on June 10th, while US Airways will implement it on July 9th.
I mean c’mon. What am I missing here? Is it me or do the airlines think we are stupid? Am I the only one that feels like someone should just look you in the eye, remind you about the poor state of our economic affairs and simply ask me to pay five damned dollars more for my ticket.
I think I’d be more than happy to do it. And the airline would benefit as well. After all, think of all the money they will save on medical bills. No more iirate, frustrated passengers slugging airline customer service personnel at the check-in counter with the very bags they are being overchanged to check.
Savings should be in the millions!
And if you think that is the most shocking fee I have to tell you about, think again my friends.
Apparently, RyanAir, the discount European airline that already charges its customers for uh, checking in (5€ for on-line check in and 10€ for checking in at the airport) is exploring charging customers for using the lavatory. A fee to pee. And for, pardon my French, barfing in a bag.
Let’s think about that last one for a moment, shall we? So, you are feeling sick on the flight. You know it’s coming. You press the call button, wait for the flight attendant to come, dig out your money to pay for your barf bag and wait for the flight attendant to return with it.
And by the time he/she does, instead of a barf bag- me thinks they should be charging me a clean-up fee. I’ll save the coin and just use the seat pocket in front of me, thankyouverymuch.
I would never, ever, fly an airline that charged me for involuntarily carrying out bodily functions. Would you?
So, just as we did last time, we wait. Wait to see what other stupid, dehumanizing fees the airlines can cram down our throats.
What do you think? Getting tired of these silly fees? What ridiculous travel fees have you encountered or heard of lately?