Additionally, sites like Expedia and Travelocity are all about sorting by price, so a lower base price ticket is the most important thing. It is pure deception.

Everybody needs to start paying cash just so they'll be forced to cut out that crap.

Which is why I mentioned ANA. JAL is dying because of mismanagement, but they will never get bought out. The current candidates (Delta, American) are up for a minority stake in JAL. Either of them buying JAL outright would be like ANA buying out United (though the second is actually desirable).

@MikeM_inMD: IIRC there is also the possibility of 'forcing' the travel agents to use the airline credit card (or an 'official' airline card) otherwise the agent has to pay a fee for using a different credit card account, which of course would then have to be passed on to us, the consumer.

Maybe this trial balloon will pop and they'll forget it. OTOH, Mythbusters proved a lead balloon will float, so there may no way around this (other than not flying, which I am currently doing due to my unemployment status). Or as bohemian mentioned, we need national rail travel, to provide worthy competition to the airlines. Otherwise, we need to keep stocking up on the lube.

The last time I tried to buy a ticket at the counter was 2 years ago. American Airlines kindly charged me abn additional $30 for the "privelege" of talking to a real live person as part of the transaction. When I went to pay, they would not take a check and could only take cash if it was for the exact amount (since they could not make change). The only way to pay was by credit card.

Maybe AA has changed some of their counter policies since then, but it sure seems that they are only set up for credit transactions when it comes to ticket purchases.

Are Japanese domestic airlines really that much better? I once flew ANA from NRT to FUK, and besides being the only time I've flown on a 737 in single-class configuration it didn't seem that much different from any other airline I've flown on. That having been said, the Japanese domestic airline industry is VERY different from the US one in a number of ways, between filling 747s with single-class seating (Tokyo-Haneda to Sapporo-New Chitose is the busiest airline route in the world) and discount airlines that won't accept bookings more than a month or so in advance. Let's also not forget that JAL is currently hemorrhaging money and will likely be bought out soon.

I know Florida is one for sure.

@Mecharine: Well, for one thing, trains usually don't go across oceans, so trips to islands or Europe can be hard.

Its also a time issue. If I have one week of vacation, but it takes me 3 days to drive/train to California, then I get one day to visit with family before I have to go back. Maybe a train would take 2 days travel, so I get 3 days with family. Still pretty short when I can fly in one day.

@Saltillopunk: I love how they will charge you a fee for booking online, but not getting your ticket in person. But if you check-in for the flight in person, you pay an extra "check-in" fee (at least if you have a bag), but no extra fee (beyond the base bag fee) if you check in online.

Yes, I agree too. Credit card fees should remain buried in the price of tickets and all other goods purchased.

Just build the freaken cost of doing business into the price of your product . I don't want an itemized list from your balance sheet . I don't want to be nickel & dimed . If you need a bailout simply ask for one like everyone else .

Just build the everything into the price and not disguise your actual price with all these petty fees .

Sir Freddie Laker, British low-cost airline pioneer, was killed suddenly yesterday during a promotional photo shoot when he was struck from behind by one of his own planes on the tarmac and sucked into an engine...

Actually, he passed away in 2006:

[www.freddieawards.com]

To take any other approach means that we as consumers might as well accept that this will become one more direct cost that we will start bearing. I don't need a CC that much.

I'd sooner expect them to charge a fee for paying anything at the counter - it delays the whole line. Naturally they got it backwards.

@RPHP: In addition, even if they can't get around that particular law, I think they're getting around the entire cc fee structure by charging an "online booking fee" and not a credit card fee. Of course, CC's are one of the few means to actually book online. And if you sent in a check, they could say that the fare is subject to change until the check clears. So, they've essentially made it a legal CC fee by process of elimination and the administrative burden to do it any other way. The only grey areas would be a debit card or paypal (if they accept it).

@ApupnamedShamus: My thoughts exactly.

To explain what I think 99 is talking about - with the online world I believe a transaction may legally take place where the retailer is based rather than the consumer in some instances (99 correct me if I am wrong). Therefore, your state law would not apply to the transaction because it technically did not take place in your state.

I will not repeat my point from above but that provides an additional reason why even if the transaction takes place in your state it may be legal.

@ElPresidente408: As does AA.

If you don't want to pay it, find out if you are looking at an airline that will charge one of these fees, and go to a travel agent, or a licensed ticket agent, and have book through them. If that's not worth the money to you, pay it. Or, book on another airline.

This is irritating, but these appear to be the options they have left us.

More importantly, this isn't a debt, so they aren't required to accept cash, which specifically is legal tender for all debts.

I think.

I met a gentleman the other day - probably in his 70s or early 80s - who told me a great story. In the 1950s if you flew PanAm First Class to Argentina, the stewardesses would actually wheel out a cart with a Hibachi, light the charcoal, and grill up Argentinian beef for you in the cabin. Since Hibachis don't put out much smoke, the airplane vents would just take care of it. And since most travelers were smoking cigarettes on the plane, it didn't add much anyway. Every traveler in First Class could pick a red or white wine and get an entire bottle. If you didn't drink the bottle you could take it with you off the flight.

People show pay the fee, then dispute it with the credit card company... should cost the airlines a pretty penny since it's a violation of their agreement...

/snicker
//but it's legal tender officer!

So it'll be great for the contestants on Amazing Race...

2. What other options besides credit/debit cards exist? I don't think any airline accepts cash or personal checks anymore. Credit cards are part of their "security" (verification) scheme.

@rellog321: sorry... truth in pricing

Sorry, I know many believe that government shouldn't tell businesses how to run, but they need to step in on all the "fees" and "add-ons" that consumers are getting hit with. If it isn't airlines, it's the telecommunications companies, ISPs and cable/sat companies. Time to institute a "true in pricing" law of some sort...

Seriously ... there will come a time when airlines will charge for EVERYTHING. No doubt they'll soon charge for using the lavs. They'll charge for turning on the overhead reading light. Turn it off to nap a little while and then turn it back on later? Another charge! And for opening up the overhead vent. They'll charge for having pushed the flight-attendant button (even if by accident). They'll charge if you tilt your seat back. They'll charge if you lift the armrest, and charge you a second time for putting it down (which is required for landing). They'll charge if you stand up just a minute to stretch your legs. They'll charge for asking a flight attendant a question.

"We must charge you an extra fee for you to get a discount."

Milo Minderbinder would be proud...

So, I vote we all bring our airfare to the ticket counter in PENNIES, in big muslin bags. "Skycap -- some help here please."

Airlines, you will know know how many humps to expect.

If you are charged a credit card fee, get a chargeback on that amount, the merchant will shape up.

It's a good thing I gave up on flying about 5 years ago.

We all know that folks who pay cash for airline tickets are either drug dealers, fugitives, terrorists or some other undesirable...

So now to save the soon to be $40 paid by credit card fee, we will pay by cash. Then we will go for the extra level of screening reserved for high risk travelers.

Of course, in addition to actually buying at ticket at the airport (have you ever tried it, it's hell), if you buy at the airport, its harder to find the right flight/fee that you found online. Likely, the particular fee is already gone, unless you're booking months in advance. So, its essentially a way to pay higher fares.

@sharkd: 2nded on your comment.

These airlines are learning from the phone industry and rental car industry in how to nickel and dime their way to profits...

@jvanbrecht:

Yes, it does seem to make more business sense to encourage people to pay with credit because then people will buy in advance and the flights have a better chance of selling out. If you force people into a situation where they buy at the last minute, you will end up turning away customers at the gate because other people showed up at the last minute to buy tickets. They should encourage purchases as early as possible, and frown upon last minute purchases.

Please just build more of the operating costs into the actual ticket cost. I won't feel like I'm getting nickle-and-dimed and you will be able to move closer to turning a profit without looking like Cash4Gold.

Best,

Fordpickup

@bohemian:

Nope, you can always walk up to the counter and pay cash.

@madanthony:

So, if what you say holds true, if you buy at the counter with a credit card they would not charge you extra. Let's see if it truly works out that way.

Really, buying online should be cheaper then buying at the counter. Sure there are server and programming costs, but you should make up those costs with the increase in sales volume. I'm willing to bet that processing ticket sales at the counter are less efficient and more expensive than buying online, its just that the airlines don't want to give the 2% to credit card companies.

And who books at the counter anyway? People usually buy their tickets far in advance of the flight, and they don't usually make a trip to the airport to buy the tickets weeks ahead of time, unless perhaps they are frequent business travelers. And what about if you get the tickets through a travel agency? Is that considered the counter so that you wouldn't be charged extra? People just don't buy their tickets at the counter.

Let's call it what it is, another way to screw people out of a few extra dollars. Its like Ticketmaster charging people a "convenience fee" for using Ticketmaster or them charging you an up front parking fee even if you don't need to park (you can walk to the venue).

But the point being, even those people no longer accept cash.. I don't think I have seen a cash drawer at any airport check in or ticket purchase counter in years... And some won't accept cash, and for that matter, won't accept a CC that has any other name then the person's who's name will be on atleast 1 of the tickets (if purchasing more then 1 ticket).

It's not explicitly a credit card fee, but rather a convenience fee for buying online, so it probably is OK under their merchant agreement.

actually, walking up to the counter and paying in cash is exactly the "option" they give you. And since it's a fee for buying online, not explicitly for paying with a credit card, it's probably OK under their merchant agreement.

Spirit adds a $4.90 passenger usage fee for bookings not made in person at its airport locations. And Allegiant applies a $14 surcharge to tickets booked through its Web site but waives this "convenience" fee if you buy in person at one of its ticket offices. Both are de-facto credit card fees.

So it is cheaper to purchase the tickets online, but since you can only purchse tickets online by using a credit card, there's no way to avoid paying a credit card convenience fee.

It's lose-lose!

charge more for paying by card but they charge you a fee for buying at airport or away from airport or by phone.

you can no longer reserve a seat and pay at the airport..... the golden days of flying

where is sir freddie laker when you need him.

need to run to class, will do more research on that later.

No, seriously. How can you pay without a credit card? I mean, I guess if you're buying the ticket at the airport then you can pay with cash. But other than that.

Bank transfer? Money order?

@Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather: That's how they get you. I think with one of the airlines mentioned, if you show up at their ticket counter and pay in person, they'll waive the fee (even if you use a credit card, I guess). But if you book on the website, fee! For the other airline, the opposite is in play. It's ridiculous.

To make things clear, the airlines are talking about implementing fees for booking flights, not in-flight snacks and stuff (though they may do that already).

This is ridiculous. Credit cards are the safest way of purchasing online, especially for large purchases like airline tickets. With checked bag fees, late fees, transfer fees, and now this, even budget airlines are getting expensive.

Definitely another fee to shore up a faulty bussiness. most air travel is booked by credit card well in advance. Even with these fees people are unlikely to pay for flights with cash or check in any appreciable amount.

@ElPresidente408: this has nothing to do with in-flight, it's only for airline tickets

@Sneeje: so if you buy a ticket on Orbitz, you're going to pay cash?

I thought charging more for using a CC was against the merchant agreement.