AIRLINE FEES--I DON'T THINK SO

I’ve just returned from a delightful and refreshing mini-vacation with my future daughter-in-law to her home city and family in Chicago.
I do not fly often so when something changes, I often am surprised. One of the most shocking was a $150 per ticket fee if you change your flight. When computers eliminate the need for manual handling of this type of thing, saving money for personnel, they pass on the savings to their customers in the form of an outrageous fee. So much for customer service.

A lot of airlines, in an effort to cut costs have introduced other laughable extra fees.
While I don’t have answers for all of the fees, here are a few savings.

USE A CARRY ON—
Thanks to my travel partners expertise—we carried our luggage on, thus saving the checked baggage fees. The fee on United happened to be $25 for the first bag and on from there. Check online for the specifications for your airline. United allowed us one carry on, and a computer/tote bag. I fit my purse in my tote and saved a bundle.

HOW ABOUT A FREQUENT FLYER CLUB—
Althouh I haven’t taken my own advice because I am not a frequent flyer, they can save you money. If you stay with one airline, you accumulate points which can save you money. Some airlines will even waive baggage fees. Make sure you know the limitations of the plans. Many have black out dates or stringent rules, that eliminate their benefits.

HOTEL PERKS—
Sometimes your hotel will provide the extra perk of paying your baggage fee when you present them with your receipt. It can’t hurt to ask.

DON’T PAY A SEAT SELECTION FEE—
You can be charged up to $20 if you opt for preferred seat selection for aisle and exit row seats. Check in online before the flight is due to avoid these.
An adequate time to do this is 24 hours before the flight when the most free non-preferred seating is open.

PILLOW AND BLANKET FEE—ABSURD!!
If you’re not likely to catch a catnap without a pillow, throw an inflatible one in your carryon or roll up a jacket or sweater. Need a blanket, Carry a warm sweater and you’ll avoid feeling like a popsicle if the air conditioning is too much. Savings up to $7.

EARBUDS PLEASE--
With all of our technology, invest in a cheap pair of earbuds to keep in your purse or pocket. This can save you up to $5 not only at the airlines, but how about those computuer you might want to use on vacatoin, either at a library or at the hotel.

MY STOMACH IS HITTING MY BACKBONE—
Yup, you guessed it, gone are the days where everyone complains about airline food, because the only way you will enjoy it (or not) is if you pay for it, and even then the selection is minimal. Brown bag it!! Throw a few munchies in your purse, but don’t forget the no liquid rule, fill your water bottle after you go throuh security.

SOUTHWEST STILL LIKES TO SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS—
Southwest Airlines still allows up to two checked bags with no charge—amazing!!

NOW GO AN ENJOY YOUR TRIP