Wondering About Discount Airline Tickets
As the holiday season nears, the hunt for discount airline tickets intensifies.
According to an airfare research company, the price of airline tickets is definitely lower this year than last year. The reason for this is the 15 percent difference in fuel prices.
But before you jump for joy, you should know that it will be more challenging than ever to stick to your budget because of certain factors.
For starters, you should expect to pay for numerous surcharges that most airlines are imposing. The newest of these fees is the $10 fuel surcharge which will be applied to three of the busiest travel dates for the season.
Of course, there are also the fees you have to pay for checking your baggage. Just this summer, several airlines have even charged passengers and extra $5 for each bag checked at the airport and not online. The said airlines justified the surcharge as a way to speed up the check-in process. But experts believe that airlines are just trying to earn more in order to stay afloat.
On the other hand, there are certain surcharges that will not affect all passengers. For instance, the fee for unaccompanied minors can be as high as $100. Travelers who also want to sit beside their family will have to pay an extra $90.
All these surcharges have made it difficult for travelers to really appreciate the value of their cheap airplane tickets. Airlines have certainly become adept in concealing fees which leave passengers surprised at the total amount they have to pay when traveling by air.
Unfortunately, the Department of Transportation is not authorized to regulate what airline charge their customers for the services they provide. They can only require airlines to make announcements involving baggage fees. In addition, they can also punish airlines if they fail to compensate their passengers in the event that the baggage are delayed or lost.
So, as far as travelling goes, consumers are advised to take the safe route and book way ahead of time. If you are a frequent flier, you are lucky enough to avoid many of the surcharges and even enjoy savings from the purchase of cheap flights. But regular travelers should be prepared for the worst especially if they are forced to travel during the busiest travel dates and do not have flexible travel plans.
