7 Nasty Airline Fees and How to Avoid Them

Booking

Except Southwest, every major airline charges a fee to book a flight over the phone. The worst offenders: Delta Air Lines (DAL), Frontier and United Airlines (UAUA), which charge $25 per ticket. Third-party travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz (OWW) charge between $6 and $12 per ticket for online booking. To avoid these fees, book directly on the airline's web site, says George Hobica, publisher of fare-tracking site AirfareWatchdog.com.

Redeeming Frequent-Flier Miles

"Some people have been collecting miles for years, and now they have to pay extra to use them," says Parsons. US Airways (LCC) charges $25 to $50 to book a flight using frequent-flier miles. American Airlines (AMR) charges $5. The airline recently announced new fees for rewards upgrades ($50 to upgrade from coach to first-class on a domestic flight, for instance) and higher mile requirements (a round-trip ticket to Europe costs 20,000 more miles) starting Oct. 1. Making matters worse, it's extremely tough for frequent fliers to redeem their miles now that airlines are cutting back on flights, says Parsons. One way to make sure those miles don't go to waste is to swap them for other rewards. (To learn more about swapping frequent-flier miles, read our story.)

Choosing a Seat

Opt to stretch out in an exit row, and it'll cost you. AirTran (AAI) charges a flat $20 for those seats, while United charges anywhere from $14 to $109 per flight. Even if you aren't angling for extra legroom, you can get charged just for choosing a seat. Spirit now assesses a $15 fee to passengers who choose a window seat, $10 for an aisle and $5 for one in the middle. To avoid paying, check in online as early as possible — usually, 24 hours before the flight — and you should be able to pick a seat for free, says Hobica.

Changing a Ticket

Southwest is the only airline that doesn't charge domestic ticket holders for altering their itinerary. Change a flight on any other airline and expect to pay a fee ranging from $50 (Alaska Airlines (ALK), for online changes) to $150 (American, Continental (CAL), United and US Airways). The best defense against these fees is to solidify plans before you book, advises Banas. Paying a slightly higher fare usually costs less than getting hit with a change fee.

Curbside Baggage Check

Don't feel like rolling the suitcases inside the terminal? It'll cost you. Northwest (NWA), United and US Airways charge $2 per bag for curbside check-in. Delta charges $3. Use a little elbow grease and roll the luggage inside in order to avoid the first, of many, fees at the airport, advises Parsons.

Checking Bags

When it comes to checking luggage, it's a virtual fee-for-all, warns Banas. American, Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways all charge $15 for the first checked bag. And while Delta announced it would stand firm against invoking such a fee, it's doubled charges for checking a second bag to $50. Think you can avoid the second bag fee by stuffing everything into one case? Be warned, it may end up costing even more. Going just one pound over the 50-pound limit triggers an overweight fee of $29 (AirTran) to $125 (United). Stick to carry-ons (although be prepared to fight for space) or ship extra-heavy bags to the hotel ahead of time to avoid these fees. (See more tips on avoiding baggage fees.)

In-Flight Amenities

Forget about relaxing with a soft pillow and a cold drink. Only a few holdouts, including Continental and JetBlue (JBLU), offer free drinks and snacks anymore. US Airways, for example, now charges $2 for nonalcholic drinks. And be prepared to get hit in other ways. Want a pillow and blanket on your JetBlue flight? That'll be $7. To avoid paying $3 for a bag of chips, bring snacks and an inflatable pillow from home, and buy a drink at the terminal, says Hobica.