JerseyGuy From United States, joined Oct 2005, 481 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 5460 times:
I was on the Spirit Airlines website and I was pricing out a ticket and I noticed the taxes were kind of high so I clicked on the detail button and found this listed under the taxes
WEB CONVENIENCE FEE $10
I thought the airlines were trying to get people to book on the web. Do they charge more to call them? I would think they wouldn't want to bog down their call center but I guess they are just hoping no one notices.
Spinkid From United States, joined Jul 2001, 891 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 5393 times:
That is a real BS fee, airlines started charing for paper tickets and for booking over the phone and now they are penalizing you for using their web site. I would rather it just be included in the fare. It isn't like checking an extra bag where you may or may not have a choice.
A330300 From United States, joined Nov 2005, 138 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 5330 times:
The theory is for folks to book at the airport or over the phone, which have no fee attached. However, the web has a $5 discount, but it's negated by the WCF.
Example: $99 + taxes over the phone or @ airport, $94 online + $5 WCF online....same thing!
Makes you wonder how long until an airline makes you pay to even access the site.
What next, a boarding pass printing fee? Or will they charge you for booking your ticket on a third party site instead of the airlines' site?
In some ways, this is a sneaky move on the part of Spirit (and Allegiant). Most airlines these days want you to book through their website. Why not just up the fare by $5 each way? Oh yeah, airlines would rather fee you to death than to raise the fares too much more.
Inflation hasn't ruined everything. A dime can still be used as a screwdriver.
PiedmontINT From United States, joined Jul 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 5219 times:
Quoting Srbmod (Reply 5): Or will they charge you for booking your ticket on a third party site instead of the airlines' site?
I'm surprised this hasn't already happened. I am sure airlines would love to put the online travel agencies out of business so they could only sell directly. Piecing together flights like Orbitz and the like do to always book the cheapest fare, even if on 3+ different carriers is causing the airlines to miss out on huge amounts of revenue.
Rjnut From United States, joined Dec 1999, 895 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 5177 times:
Quoting PiedmontINT (Reply 6): I'm surprised this hasn't already happened. I am sure airlines would love to put the online travel agencies out of business so they could only sell directly. Piecing together flights like Orbitz and the like do to always book the cheapest fare, even if on 3+ different carriers is causing the airlines to miss out on huge amounts of revenue.
[Edited 2008-07-19 18:31:36]
It is imperative to have a very good grasp of current airline distribution options to explore this question.. The mainstream GDS systems ( of which the 3RD PARTY sites overlay) are still the only way to offer comprehenvise access to airlines' inventory (much to the dismay of the airlines) and I cant see anything coming down the the pipeline to counter this option! If there were , maybe,. only 2-3 carriers in the the US , perhaps "web only " bookings could be made but the the speed and inefficiencies of these websites linger and all these websites endup overlaying the GDS systems anyway, so all you out there that dream of airline website bookings only, really then, don't have a very good understanding of the "muscles" behind these systems, so basically , moot point!
JerseyGuy From United States, joined Oct 2005, 481 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 5148 times:
Quoting PiedmontINT (Reply 6): Quoting Srbmod (Reply 5):
Or will they charge you for booking your ticket on a third party site instead of the airlines' site?
I'm surprised this hasn't already happened. I am sure airlines would love to put the online travel agencies out of business so they could only sell directly. Piecing together flights like Orbitz and the like do to always book the cheapest fare, even if on 3+ different carriers is causing the airlines to miss out on huge amounts of revenue.
I don't know if that would make a difference, online travel agencies already charge customers to book on their site and they add it in to the cost of the taxes so people don't notice
Orbitz for example charges for ticketing and additional fee for changes
"Each airline ticket purchased at Orbitz.com carries a non-refundable fee up to $11.99 USD. The fee varies based on airfare, carrier, destination and other factors.
On changes to previously issued tickets that require new tickets to be issued, a $30.00 USD service fee will be charged by Orbitz. Additional charges by the airline may apply."
So if you book on Orbitz and need to change your flight, on CO it will cost you $180
My flight on Jetblue in September costs $365 on Orbitz and $349 on Jetblue.com. That doesn't even factor in the 10% discount which is exclusive to Jetblue.com I got thru a promo code which brings the fare down to $316.20. So I saved close to $50 by booking at Jetblue.com
Some arlines have already started to charge fees for changes to reservations booked at online travel agencies. I needed to cancel my F ticket from SFO to EWR (via SEA) on Alaska. I called Alaska and was informed that there would be a $30 charge for Alaska to process the refund. So I called Orbitz and they ended up calling Alaska anyway, but I got a full refund.
PanAm747 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 3716 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (1 month 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 4839 times:
Hello customer X! Thank you for choosing Trans-Continental Monopoly Airlines! In our commitment to offering you the lowest price possible - which means taking food out of our employees mouths and sending our company into Chapter 11 - we will continue to offer you unrealistic prices so you can still fly transcontinentally for $99 each way. What a bargain!
However, please understand that certain "fees" must be assessed in order for us to save you money. In accordance with the rules of the new aviation department, the Federal Aviation and Transportation Airline Security Services (FATASS), we are required to list to you the fees you will be charged when you arrive at the airport and on the plane:
Visiting our website fee: $10
If you wish to avoid this fee and call our phone reservation system, the fee will be $20.
Changes to tickets are not allowed once purchased. Should you need to make a change to your ticket, there is a $200 cancellation fee, and then an entirely new ticket must be purchased.
Self check-in kiosk fee: $25
If you wish to avoid this fee and actually have a human being check you in, the fee will be $50.
Each piece of checked luggage: $50
Each piece of hand-carried luggage: $50
Luggage-free access to planes: $25
Jetway access fee: $50 Please note: This fee is charged at both your starting point and your ending point.
If you wish to avoid this fee, grappling hooks are available to climb up from the ground level. The rental fee is $10, with a mandatory $40 insurance fee in case the hook damages the plane.
Seat access fee: $25
Should you desire to avoid this fee and be a "standee" for the flight, there is a fee of $10. However, please be forewarned, there is a $15 fine for each time you block access to the aisle or a flight attendant.
To access the overhead bins above your seat, slide your credit card for a small payment of $5, and place your item in the overhead. Each additional time you need to access this, it will be $5. This includes when you have arrived at your destination.
Lavatory fee: $10 per visit.
Should you try and avoid this fee and have an accident, there is a $30 cleaning fee for every soiled seat.
For fresh air from the vents, the fee is $1 per minute.
For the reading light, the fee is $2 per minute.
For using your own flashlight, there is a $1 darkness convenience fee.
Seat belts can be locked and unlocked for free only one time. Each additional time you need to un-buckle and re-buckle, the fee is $5.
Water, coffee, and tea are available for $5. No free refills.
We do not charge for you to bring your own liquids on the plane; however, you probably paid just as much at one of the airport gift shops, so no loss for us.
Food is available for $5. There is a $2 charge for eating your own food, and a $30 clean-up fee should you spill anything, whether it is your food or ours.
Luggage Carousel useage fee: $10. This will be assessed whether your luggage arrives or not.
We remain committed to providing you with the lowest fares inhumanly possible, and hope that you adjust easily to the convenience fees that we are implementing. If you have any ideas as to how we can assist you further, or wish to register a complaint, please submit $25 and send your letter to:
Trans Continental Monopoly Airlines
Customer Relations Department
P.O. Box 666
Pigs Knuckle, FL
Or use our convenient e-mail system:
youdontreallythinkwereadyourlettersdoyou@tcma.com
Be sure you have your credit card ready, as there is a $15 e-mail fee for each letter.
Thanks again for flying the happy skies!!
God, that felt good!!
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
ATCpilotman83 From United States, joined Jul 2008, 3 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 month 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 4443 times:
Of course no one ever likes paying more than they have to, but with the current state of the industry it has to be expected. Airlines are doing all they can to try and make money, and are still not succeeding. I can't quite understand why its hard for the general public to understand this.
AWACSooner From United States, joined Jan 2008, 307 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 month 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 4056 times:
Quoting National757 (Reply 11):
Really? Whether you paid the fee or not I know Allegiant has been charging the fee for several years.
Last flew em in early 06...still have the printed confirmations to all the flights I did on em...with all the taxes/fees spelled out. Not a single "convenience fee" on them, just your regular taxes and PFC's.
Commavia From United States, joined Apr 2005, 6080 posts, RR: 42 Reply 16, posted (1 month 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 3936 times:
What I find comical isn't that Spirit has this fee (since they have fees for basically everything else), but that they call it a "Web Convenience Fee."
Yeah, right - the web was very convenient before I had to pay the fee!
Bond007 From United States, joined Mar 2005, 4213 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (1 month 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 3868 times:
Quoting Profcalvin (Reply 15): These days you don't know what kind of BS fees you'll find on your receipt with all the desparate companies. . . THIS is ONE
Actually, for domestic US flights, you know exactly what you are going to pay!
You might not like the extra charges, but you aren't confirming a purchase for a different amount than you'll see on your receipt.
Quoting ATCpilotman83 (Reply 13): Of course no one ever likes paying more than they have to, but with the current state of the industry it has to be expected. Airlines are doing all they can to try and make money, and are still not succeeding. I can't quite understand why its hard for the general public to understand this.
Well, we hear this every time somebody complains about extra charges, and personally, I can't understand why it's so hard for you to see the issue here. It has little to do with the fact they are charging $10 more overall ... it's the fact that it's an added, extra fee, and not simply included in the fare (although I believe some airlines do this - your base fare is more when book on their website).
Hey, if it costs the airlines more, and it's a cost of doing business ... ADD it to your base fare. It's even more questionable, when folks realize that booking on an airline's website must be the least costly method to the airline.
IMO, the airlines are just getting a little 'jealous' of companies such as Expedia, and Orbitz, who are charging fees and being somewhat successful businesses... why don't they just do the same.
Jimbo
I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground!
Eyeonthesky17 From United States, joined Jun 2005, 72 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (1 month 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 3770 times:
This is the most preposterous fee they have yet to come up with. Airline web booking engines have direct-connect capabilities with internal inventory systems. Thus, distribution fees are at a minimum or negated altogether. Simply put... this the RIPPING OFF THE PUBLIC FEE. Just raise the ticket prices. It makes the whole transaction process much more transparent.
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