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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

US Airways raises ticket costs, calls it a surcharge

Is it any wonder that many travelers have a sort of low-grade anger all the time about airlines? US Airways says it's adding a 5 percent surcharge to all tickets after May 8. Also, other carriers increased their surcharges for certain days this spriung.

Remember, these are not a fare increase, they're a surcharge, but can you tell the difference? We know that with the big capacity cuts, it's going to cost more to fly next spring and summer. I guess we should be grateful that now we know that in addition to higher fares that come with fewer available seats, we have a predictable "surcharge" to add to the cost. Read more here.
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 5:00 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:45 PM, 11/17/2009
    I saw the article. What a ridiculous way to do business. If restaurants charged an added surcharge during the holidays or during lunch and dinner hours, they'd lose all of their customers. The problem is there's no competition not doing it. Ah, for the days of price wars...now, instead of seeing who can go lowest, it's see who can go highest and get away with it. Maybe this will be a bust like trying to charge for soda during the flight.
    — cadguy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:19 PM, 11/17/2009
    what if you don't get a ticket?
    — dreinterests
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:27 AM, 11/18/2009
    IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK..GUESS WHAT...IT'S A FARE INCREASE..USAIRWAYS IS STARTING TO SOUND JUST LIKE THE US GOVERNMENT.....IT IS A DUCK....THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVER. LESS FLIGHTS,,LESS SEATS,, MORE MONEY FOR TICKETS...SOULD FAMILIAR??
    — STEVE5444
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:55 AM, 11/18/2009
    Seriously, another reason why i only fly Southwest, unless i'm going to Atlanta. If it's Atlanta, i'll fly anyone but US Air.
    — NickEeee
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:29 AM, 11/18/2009
    I don't like fare increases any more than the rest of society but really, it's a supply and demand thing. If US can get away with it, why shouldn't they do it? And if their fares are now 5% higher than everyone else's, expect that the "surcharge" won't stick.
    — phillygwm
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:32 PM, 11/19/2009
    MY wife and I purchased tickets to New York with some friends of ours earlier in the year. We just learned that us air along with some other air lines added 25 dollars per bag charge. That is a added cost of 100 dollars to our trip. I think this is unfair since we already had our tickets. If they would refund my tickets we could drive to New York pay to park and be money ahead.I personally hope they are out of business by years end.
    — vandaman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:22 PM, 11/20/2009
    Ok...I'm really sick and tired of everyone complaining about airline ticket surcharges. No one is actually paying the true cost of transporting themselves on an aircraft. It cost more to fly in the 1970's for God's sake! As always there are options: you can take a train, bus or drive yourself...Oh, that's right, those options cost more and take a heck of a lot longer. Stop the whinning!
    — paulbos


7 comments
About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
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