Frequent flyer tickets are supposed to be free, right? Well, not exactly. Airlines are socking it to passengers with all kinds of fees.
American in particular is killing customers with fees. Imagine this scenario: you book a frequent flyer ticket at the last minute, then have to change the date of travel, but ultimately can't make the trip (illness, death in the family, whatever): your total fees (assuming you want to redeposit the miles for future use) will be $405 without even leaving the ground! They even charge $5 for booking an award ticket online!
|
Airline |
"Last minute" ticketing |
Ticket issued by phone or in person |
Date/itinerary change |
Redepositing miles/points |
Same day change fee (confirmed travel) |
| Airtran | $0 | $10 paid online, $20 at airport | $50 |
51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $29 71 to 99 lbs: $69 |
62-70 total linear inches: $29; 71-80 inches $69 |
| Alaska | $0 | $0 | Bags 1-3: $50; 4-6: $75; 7th or more: $150 | 51-100 lbs: $50 | 63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75 |
| American | Travel ticketed 20 to 7 days prior to departure $50; 6 days to 2 hours prior to departure: $100 | $5 online/$20 by phone/$30 in person | $150 (MileSAAver Award tickets for which the only confirmed change is to the date and/or time will not incur the change fee) | $150 | $150 |
| Continental | Ticketed within 4 to 14 days: $50; 3 days or less: $75 (discounts for upper tier frequent flyers) | $25 | $50 (discounts for upper tier frequent flyers) | $50(discounts for upper tier frequent flyers) | $50 (discounts for upper tier frequent flyers) |
| Delta | Travel ticketed 20 days or less: $75 | $25-$50 | $100 | $100 | $50 |
| Frontier | $0 | $25 | $50 | 51-100 lbs: $50 ($75 effective June 10, 2008) | 63-80 inches: $50 ($75 effective June 10, 2008) |
| JetBlue | $0 | $20 | $75 | 51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100 | 63-80 inches: $75 |
| Northwest | $0 | $25 | $100 | 51-70 lbs: $50 | 63-160 inches: $100 |
| Spirit | $10 online/$20 at airport | $20 | Bags 3-5: $100 | 51-70 lbs: $25 ($50 June 10, 2008 onward)
71 to 99 lbs: $100 |
62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150 |
| Southwest | $0 | $0 | First additional bag: $25; bags 4-9: $50; 10 and more: $110 | 51-70 lbs: $25; 71-100 lbs: $50 | 62-80 inches: $50 |
| United | $0 | $25 | Bags 1-4: $100; 5th or more: $150 | $100 | 63-115 inches: $100 |
| US Airways | Ticketed 14 days or less: $50 online/$75 by phone | $25 | $100 | $50-400 (depending on the number of miles) |
$25 |
All products and services mentioned on Airfarewatchdog are independently selected by our team of expert travelers. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
