As we close out the year, we are seeing people top 2024 Lists. In this light, we have put together our 2024 Most Annoying Travel Fees
- Resort Fees – Hotels started charging this fee at vacation resorts in Hawaii and it has expanded like wildflowers to be a backed in mandatory fee. Hotels just want to avoid raising their list prices and find a backend way of increasing their revenue. I can understand a fee for a hotel with a whole lot of amenities but for a hotel that has a pool, gym and Wi-Fi access, there really is no excuse for this kind of fee. Added to my hatred of this fee is some suburban hotels are now charging for parking in addition to the resort fees when the parking lot is just a bunch of spaces in the back. One hotel I planned on staying for 1 night as going to tack on an additional $50 ($30 resort fees and $20 parking fee). This would have raised my per night stay b 25%!!
- Baggage Fees – Airlines starting charging for baggage when American Airlines instituted this fee in 2008 and created a billion-dollar fee nightmare for travelers. This has created an uproar with passenger resulting in people taking carry-ons instead. Now some of the discount airlines are charging for most carry-ons. I am waiting for the major airlines to follow suit.
- Change Fees – Airlines started charging for this in the 1980s as people took advantage of their ability to change their flights. Another major revenue producer for airlines.
- Seat Selection Fee – This is a relatively new one as airlines started unbundling their pricing. Twenty years ago, when you purchased your ticket, you were entitled to book a seat. As airlines saw that some seats were more valuable, the airlines started to charge their passengers to book these seats. This evolved to airlines charging for any seat selection. This is another tough one to swallow.
- Boarding Pass Printing Fee and Phone (or In Person) Booking Fee – As the internet became more pronounced, airlines started to look charge for things that were previously common. In the past, you could call the airline and book a ticket. It was as simple as that. With the internet, airlines saw that their customer service personnel were a premier service so they said if you want to book over the phone, you need to pay for this fee. The Boarding Pass fee is just another way for airlines to add a hidden fee to customers.
- Miles Redemption Fees – Most travel companies want the loyalty of their customers so they started these loyalty programs. Most of them award some kind of points system that allow the members to redeem the points for a hotel night or ticket. As these travel companies recognize the value of these programs, they started to look for ways to monetize their user interaction. An easy way was to charge their loyal members a fee to redeem their points. Definitely, a show of loyalty by the travel companies.
- Hotel Wi-Fi Fees – For hotels that do not charge resort fees, they do charge other fees like Wi-Fi fees. When the internet first came out and people wanted the ability to go online, this fee made sense since hotels did need to make an investment to permit people to access the hotel’s Wi-Fi. But that time has passes and Wi-Fi access should be a standard service like using a hotel’s elevator.
- Airline Food and Beverage Fees – Back in the day, airlines would offer some kind of food service that started with a meal and was reduced to a snack. Recently, airlines are even charging for snacks and box lunches. Discount airlines are charging for everything including soft drinks. At least you can bring food from home but you are not allowed to bring drinks through security. I guess your choice is to pay for the overpriced drinks at the airport or on the plane!
- Car Rental Ancillary Feels – Car rental companies have the most confusing fee structures. When you book online you receive a base fee. On top of that, they add fees like Airport Concession Fees, Customer Facility Charge, and Vehicle Licensing Fees. Now is it me or do you all fee that these fees should be a cost of doing business. Why is the customer reimbursing car rental company their cost to lease a spot at the airport?