Airline Fees Breach $400 Mark

As if flying isn’t expensive enough, USA Today recently reported that travelers are paying up to $400 in airline fees alone, and some of those fees are simply for connecting flights in different cities.

Let’s say you’re flying from Miami to Maui by way of Chicago and Portland. Not only is this a tricky flight, at best, with plenty of layovers, but you might just be paying for simply stopping in Chicago and Portland. Consumers are getting agitated, and with good reason. Some say the airlines are hiding these fees in the ticket price, a practice alleged to be a illegal in an airline fees class action lawsuit.

In the USA Today report, more than 12 airlines were studied, and it was revealed that some major carriers were adding new fees as a breakneck pace. American Airlines charges $450 for an overweight bag when flying internationally. United and Hawaiian charge $400 for the same situation.

With Delta, you might be facing $400 to change a ticket on international flights, which cost up to $150 in 2011. The airline fees for connecting flights can range dramatically depending on the flight and airline, but can be well over $100. All of these charges can add up, and fees are a huge revenue source for airlines. The Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that carriers can get $2.6 billion per year from bag fees alone and another $2.1 billion in fees for changing itineraries.

According to a spokesperson for the Airlines for America group Victoria Day, fees “for services they (passengers) value and are willing to pay for enabled airlines to provide consumers the ultimate choice and control over what they purchase.” However, the airline class action lawsuit takes issue with how these charges are assessed and for what. Many plaintiffs alleged they were not aware they were paying fees for connecting flights, and that the charges were intentionally hidden in the overall fee assessment.

In addition, plaintiffs in the airline fee class action lawsuit say, unlike bringing an overweight bag, they had no choice when it came to paying connecting flight fees. It’s not as simple as removing that extra pair of shoes or getting a luggage scale for home use. Connecting flights are often an unavoidable inconvenience that could lead passengers to think they’re getting a better price for that  inconvenience when they’re actually being charged for it.

USA Today’s survey revealed that “some fees” are nearly impossible to find on the airline’s websites or missing altogether. It called the fees “vague” and “incomplete,” similar to claims in the class action lawsuit.

The Real Price of Your Flight

You may never know exactly what you’re paying for, especially when numerous connecting flights are in your itinerary. Most passengers are aware that might be charged to check bags (even at an acceptable weight). But a host of other fees could come as a surprise.

Did You Pay Connecting Flight Fees?

If you paid for a connecting flight, you might be eligible to make a legal claim by joining an airline fee class action lawsuit. Find out more at the Airline Fees, Connecting City Charges, Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Submit your information and an attorney will contact you if you have a case for a free airline fees claim review.