Flying Expensive With Bags

Gone are the days of packing half of your belongings in bags to take on holidays with you. Gone are the days of bringing bags of souveniers home with you from your dream holiday or business trip. 

A survey by USA Today of airline fees shows that some carriers have hit or surpassed the $400 mark for international passengers travelling with overweight baggage.

For example, Continental is charging $400 for a bag weighing 71-100 pounds on most international flights. United Airlines similarly charges $400 for bags weighing 71-99.9 pounds on intercontinental flights. American Airlines will charge you $450 for overweight luggage bound for Asia. The reason Tim Smith, AA spokesman said, was to both defray fuel costs and to dissuade passengers from checking such heavy bags in the first place.

The annual USA TODAY survey of 13 U.S. carriers also found fees for a first checked bag are up to $38 for domestic flights and $43 for international.

To avoid a checked-bag fee some people take their belongs on board with them. Airlines like Spirit still charge a $40 fee for carrying your own bag on board, though they'll give you a $30 break if you warn them in advance via their website.

The survey found fees to make a change to a ticket vary. Frontier Airlines charges $50 for an international flight change; Delta Air Lines and United charge $150 for domestic, approx. $250 for international.

Booking a "free" frequent flier rewards ticket? It'll cost you. Most airlines charge for booking a rewards tickets with an agent over the phone; some will still charge if you book it yourself online. The highest reward ticket booking fees are US Airways', from $25-$50 (online) to $55-$90 (on the phone).

Airlines say that their fee structure helps keep ticket prices low, and allow fliers to pay only for those services that they use.

In Australia, as in other countries, many of the low cost airlines make their money out of the charges they make for extra services. It pays to look at the small print to work out the total cost of your cheap flight. Paying with a credit card, booking with a real person on the phone, checking in a bag, having a meal on board, using the entertainment system, are all items that could make your cheap flight an expensive flight. However, for those who just want a cheap flight, and not wanting the extra services, it means that it is possible to fly on a budget.