Domestic

The Smart Strategy That Avoids Airline Fees

Fees ... fees ... everywhere are fees.

For example, if you're a frequent flyer, you know all too well how business disruptions can change flight plans. Now those changes cost you dearly, thanks to the dreaded change fee (one of the highest being $150 on United).

The fees don't stop when you decide to fly home, say, on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Want to fly standby the same day? That will cost you an additional $25. Want to book an award ticket, or worse, to do so less than 21 days out? That'll be $195 on Northwest.

And, just when you thought things couldn't get crazier, Ryanair takes the fee frenzy to new heights with its potential lavatory fee. Will the airlines ever stop thinking of ways to squeeze money out of flyers?

The Elite Solution

The good news: there is hope for becoming a fee-free flyer. One of the fastest ways to avoid fee creep is to reach elite status with an airline. Once you are an elite flyer, many airlines waive their fees.

For example, for American Airlines Executive Platinum members, American waives the $25 ticketing fee for tickets not booked online, as well as the rush fee (up to 21 days) for award tickets. Rush fees on American can cost as much as $100. American also waives checked baggage fees (for two bags) for all elite members. Go here for more details.

Many airline also don't charge their highest-level members fees to redeposit miles into their mileage accounts should they not use a booked award ticket. (Delta is the only airline at present that does charge: $50 for the third redeposit in a given year. But the first two redeposits are on Delta.)

Elite flyers also have the edge when it comes to having their complaints heard. We'll go out on limb to say that airline customer service training overseas is not the best. If the representative you speak to seems unable to do anything (which often seems the case) to waive your $150 ticket change fee, ask for a supervisor. Tell the supervisor you are a valued customer and that the change fee is nearly the same cost as the ticket and see if the supervisor can at least cut the change fee in half. We tried this for a flight we booked for July and were able to get the fee reduced 50 percent, to $75.

Not All Fees Are Unfair

We know there is a lot of fee outrage and we sympathize. But we are also realistic. Some fees are justified, and thus Wing Tips has learned to love some fees and wants to pass the love on to you.

Think of it this way: Because American and Delta impose upgrade fees, the lines for upgrades on those airlines are short, reducing demand and giving you a better shot at being upfront. Compare that to US Airways and Delta which don't charge, making your odds of getting a first class upgrade slim.

To get more smart tips on airline fees, read the feature from First Class Flyer's June 2009 issue, titled, "Fee Outrage: First Class Flyer's Perspective." Click here to access it. Don't get First Class Flyer? Perhaps it's time to. Your subscription is fully guaranteed and you get 11 free Bonus Reports just for trying it. Click here for details.