Gettin’ Carried Away

Many of us are already aware that most U.S. airlines charge for checked baggage, curbside check-in and in-flight snacks/beverages. However, there are some other totally outrageous fees you might be unaware of! Courtesy of ABC News, here are some of the most appalling airline fees/charges:

• Drop Off/Pick Up: London’s Luton Airport charges motorists one pound to drop off/pick up passengers. One of the reasons people may prefer to be dropped off at the airport is to avoid the fee at the car park (aka parking lot). This defeats the purpose of avoiding parking prices or the cost of a ride on the Underground. And now I’ve come up with a question: If you are dropped off by a taxi cab, will you incur an extra fee?
• Pillows & Blankets: JetBlue has come up with a very clever marketing scheme, selling the “world’s cleanest” pillow and blanket travel kit for $7. If these kits are really customized by the airline, they better be a heck of a lot more comfortable than the tiny felt-like blankets and pillows most airlines give away for free.

~* You won’t be living the High Life in the skies unless you empty your wallet! *~

• Booking over the phone: What if ::gasp:: you don’t have the Internet. You usually go to your local library to surf the net and keep up with your favorite travel blogs. Well, you’d better book your flight, as well, because doing so over the phone can cost you up to $35 with some U.S. airlines.
• Seat assignments: Spirit, a discount airline, charges passengers to reserve a seat in advance. For $15, you will be seated in an exit row. For $10, you can stretch your legs in the aisle. And for a low cost of $5, you can sit in the ::gulp:: middle seat.