Travel

16 Fees We'd Like to Charge the Airlines

By: Matt Meltzer

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Credit: Shutterstock

That $189 round-trip flight to New Orleans looked too good to be true. And, it was. Because once you arrived at the airport, you learned there was a check-in fee. And a checked-bag fee. And a carry-on bag fee, an in-flight magazine fee, a Spanish-language translation fee, a lavatory fee, and, of course, an 18 percent automatic gratuity for your flight attendants.

Yes, it seems these days that the only way to fly fee-free is by wearing a week’s worth of clothes and standing the entire flight. But what if the script was flipped, and you could charge the airlines fees? What would you ring them up for? Not enough leg room? Surly gate agents? Well, after flying over the holidays, we’ve got a few ideas.

Here are 16 fees we’d like to see the airlines charged. Please, feel free add your own below.

More: These Are the 13 Worst People At Every Airport Security Checkpoint

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Credit: Flickr/mastermaq

Misleading on-time status fee: $100
Hmmm… funny that this flight says “on-time” on the monitor behind the gate agent, but it’s scheduled to leave in 10 minutes and, whoa, look at that — there’s no plane at the gate! Apparently today’s flight is captained by Wonder Woman.

Inefficient check-in fee: $100
The precision and attention to detail involved in placing a pre-printed sticker on a pre-checked bag must be right up there with diamond cutting.

Outlet shortage fee: $25
You think it might be a little degrading forcing us all to gather around your magic electric pole in the boarding lounge like it’s tossing out beads on Bourbon Street?

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Credit: Flickr/caesararium

Inebriated passenger fee: $65
There’s this thing bartenders do to people who’re slurring their words and talking about the artistic greatness of “Hinder.” It’s called cutting them off.

Inefficient boarding fee: $75
There are smart airlines who’ve figured out that boarding from the outside-in is way more efficient than boarding from the back of the plane forward. And then there are airlines, one might argue, that want boarding to be a bit of a mess so they can offer “pre-boarding” for, of course, a fee. They should be billed.

Small seat fee: $25
Let’s play a clever game of cat and mouse, where every time you cram more seats onto your plane, we up this fee accordingly.

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Credit: Shuterstock

Overweight passenger fee
If you only get to use 80% of your seat, you should only have to pay for 80% of your ticket. Feel free to pass that charge along to the guy taking up 120%.

Excessive carry-on allowance fee: $50
So you’re trying to say that bag with an entire Bass Pro Shop stuffed inside fits your airline’s definition of a carry-on? Stop it. Make the cheap-ass check it so there’s at least SOME overhead space for those of us who only brought gym bags.

We turned the tables and came up with fees we’d charge airlines if given the chance… head to Thrillist.com for 8 more!

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