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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

UPDATED:Are you 'mad as hell' about airline fees?

If the headline describes your sense of frustration and outrage at some of the fees airlines charge, there's a new movement you can join, aimed at getting federal regulators to adopt rules to make them more transparent. Three groups representing airline customers -- the American Society of Travel Agents, the Business Travel Coalition and the Consumer Travel Alliance -- have jointly created a Web site, http://madashellabouthiddenfees.com/ where customers are encouraged to tell their stories about being surprised and angered by fees for services once included in ticket prices.

UPDATE: The Business Travel Coaltion reports as of Wednesday afternoon, roughly 1,000 travelers have signed the petition to DOT re airline fee transparency.

The Web site name is more than catchy: The purpose of the stories is to collect them for submission to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who's contemplating proposed federal rules that would require airlines to display all the costs -- fees, taxes, government and airline-imposed -- before buying a ticket. The rules would apply no matter how the ticket is bought: directly from a carrier, from a live travel agent or travel management company or from an online travel agency. You've been  reading about fees in this space for roughly two years, and here's an excellent chance to express your opinions about them.

Speaking of mad-as-hell, did you hear the latest on Steven Slater, the JetBlue flight attendant who took the emergency chute out of his jet at JFK last month? He has quit the airline and according to the Hollywood Reporter is in talks for his own reality TV show and book.
Posted by Tom Belden @ 8:10 AM  Permalink | 8 comments
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:24 AM, 09/07/2010
    The moron is going to get his own Reality show. He'll be a millionaire for doing something he should have went to jail for. Only in America, or should I say Only in the decline of America.
    — neddyflanders
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:50 AM, 09/07/2010
    No, fees are great, as long as they are straightforward and not a surprise. Everything should be a la carte.
    — dartvader
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:50 AM, 09/07/2010
    No, fees are great, as long as they are straightforward and not a surprise. Everything should be a la carte.
    — dartvader
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:00 PM, 09/07/2010
    NY Times, September 4 2010: "After Bargains of Recession, Air Fares Soar. Air fares have marched steadily upward in recent months and are now close to pre-recession levels — and that’s not even counting all the fees that airlines have introduced lately." And philly17, I don't think Slater was an idiot, maybe just momentarily out-of-control. But after driving home and getting arrested he had no idea re the sympathy and affection he had roused in the public - including other airline attendants. He didn't ask for the spontaneous outpouring of donations for his bail money. And he did not go after fame and fortune; it's all gone after him. Who is/are the true idiot/s?
    — He Visto Todo
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:14 PM, 09/07/2010
    this is america... if you dont like the fees, fly elsewhere. the Sept 11th fee gets a free pass?
    — raynesrock
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:16 AM, 09/10/2010
    Your link to Mad As Hell is broken.
    — MaggieL
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:25 AM, 09/10/2010
    No, I am not mad. I compared prices for a trip to St Lous this November for 2 people. The fare with Southwest (No bag fees) was still MORE than USAirways +(fees for 4 bags@$55 each piece) The bottom line is airlines are going to get their money.
    — ndiva


8 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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