Airlines under scrutiny for excessive fees

Posted on Tuesday 01 May 2012 in Flights, Holidays

Indian travellers have been looking for more transparency when they are comparing rates for future flights domestically and abroad. Some airlines are known to post certain rates for their flights, when in reality there are many hidden fees for rising fuel prices, extra baggage and more. Sometimes tourists have begun to question certain charges that seem unnecessary excessive.

For instance, when some airlines offer bookings online, they will charge a fee to process debit and credit cards. Several companies in the U.K., including Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet, take advantage of this fee and will profit by a few rupees from the sale of each ticket.

However, several passengers are trying to make these types of charges obsolete by complaining to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), reports The Independent. Some say that these types of extra expenses are excessive and can add up for travellers taking frequent holidays or business trips.
One British airline has already eliminated the debit and credit card processing charge, hoping to ease the minds of some wary passengers. Flybe, which is one of the country's largest regional carriers, has lowered their rates slightly for those using their cards to book online by getting rid of the Rs 850 charge. However, this does not mean that the airline will not continue processing fees for other services, such as extra baggage. When introduced, the additional luggage charge on Flybe was roughly Rs 160, which has now increased six-fold over the last couple {of} years.

The OFT is pushing to streamline its efforts to ban hidden and disproportionate fees from all airlines in the U.K. On the official OFT website, passengers' questions about changes to fees are answered, following a campaign by the consumer watchdog organization Which? to make these charges obsolete or better explained by airlines.

While efforts are being made to eliminate the additional costs levied on flights, some experts say that travellers should expect these types of fees and allow them to happen. A recent report by Jay Sorensen of IdeaWorks find that charges may be key to helping airlines overcome difficult economic times and allows for more wallet-friendly fares in the future, according to Cleveland.com. He says this is imperative for domestic flights, even if fees seem inconvenient and unwarranted.

"Gone forever are the days when a single price described the all-inclusive fare between two cities," Sorensen told the news source. "Consumers now begin the booking experience with a shopping cart into which they add services and products to the base product of an airline seat. Advertising for the now-defunct People Express Airlines said it best in 1981, 'You pay only for baggage you want to check, drinks you want to drink, and the snacks you want to snack.'"

Although perks can be a plus, Sorensen argues that if travellers wish to enjoy refreshments or free checked baggage, they can do so by paying an additional charge. Several other experts also claim that fees for luggage and other amenities help airlines stabilise their rates and focus on rising fuel costs that are driving increases of ticket prices.

Indian travellers may want to consider the pros and cons of flying with different airlines for their upcoming trips. If taking short breaks, they can choose an airline with baggage fees since they most likely will only need a carry-on. Others who plan on a long adventure travel excursion may want to investigate if meals are complementary, which would be helpful for hungry passengers.

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