SNEAKY AIRLINE FEES: THE 7 MOST ANNOYING ONES AND HOW TO AVOID PAYING UP!
Why does a cold SANDWICH on a flight cost almost the price of a cheap meal?
Surely it’s not worth £3:99 approx. $5. Yet that’s what you pay for a cold, unappetizing sandwich on most low-cost carriers like: EasyJet, Jet2, Monarch, and sadly even large ones like Brussels Airlines.
We were not too long ago charged that plus £2 almost $3 for a bottled drink for our Son on a large airline. Serves us right for not practicing what we preach! Although we packed the snacks and forgot them, on the kitchen counter!
We read it somewhere that a passenger was charged $12 for a blanket on a cold Flight to Hawaii. He refused to cough up in some colourful language, and the whole flight was diverted to disembark said passenger. For using colourful language to the airline staff…!!!! True story…
What the heck is that. The world gone mad! Aren’t those blankets supposed to be part of the price one pays for the flight as in “FREE.” (So, next time you take a flight, why don’t you walk away with your blanket. You are paying premium for that thin piece of material!)
Weighing the supposed cost of an extra blanket on that flight $12 vis-a-vis diverting a whole flight…That’s thousands of dollars! Not counting the unhappy passengers who may demand recompense, for missing connections. The mind boggles!
That extreme story aside…We as frequent travellers, have noticed a creep in and up of all kinds of sneaky airline fees, add-ons are rife without any real reason!
The most unrealistic and annoying fee for us is:
- The alleged admin fee for changing your flight after 24 hrs of booking! Anywhere from £50 – £100. In some cases, you have to pay for a whole new ticket! Remember you booked it yourself ONLINE so no person administering said actions. And the website is updated by a SALARIED person/s right! Ridiculous!
We had the displeasure of paying an extra $110 each to Turkish airlines after visiting the office 5 times in Kampala. That was $440 more for a flight change that wasnt our fault; from Istambul to Manchester Airport! To say I was pissed off would be an understatment! Saved us 23 hours in Istmbul Airport…Worth it in the end as Julie had food poisoning as well!
Now the seemingly smaller yet just as ridiculous and annoying sneaky costs:
For a full list of all the sneaky airline fees we recommend you check out this article by Hopper! Seems like airlines are earning upwards of 10% from all these add-ons, yes that baby sick served as a meal costs you $10+.
The problem is that the fees vary greatly from airline to airline and class to class, which means comparing base ticket prices has become almost meaningless.
[clickToTweet tweet=”We share with you the most common sneaky airline fees to avoid! #bestairfaretips” quote=”We share with you the most common sneaky airline fees to avoid!”]
But here below we share with you the most common airline fees to avoid!
#1. Chose the right flight for Your Needs.
This definitely mean also picking the right airline.
Most of us just need a value airfare to get us from A to B that’s it. At least that’s what we at Pkjulesworld do.
But the thing is most low cost and even larger airlines have numerous add-on, so much so, your quoted price could get out of hand. Also, its impossible to compare from one to another.
So, depending on your needs, we advise that consider booking a fee-free airline. Could look like it costs more, but it gives you peace of mind!
[RELATED: Our 10 Secret Flight Booking Hacks]
#2. Avoid Paying for Inflight WiFi
We normally check on Gogo prior to flying for a 24hr Wi-Fi pass for those Airlines that use its services esp. in USA, Canada and Mexico where they have coverage.
Flights to USA are our best bet for Wi-Fi, we get quite a bit done. For instance, we can update our e-courses, schedule blog posts, create content, Or simply listen to some powerful self development audios. Go check it out before your next flight.
Gogo is specially good for United, Delta, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Virgin America!
[RELATED: How To start a Conversation on a Flight]
#3. What are those Taxes for?
There are; green taxes, carbon footprint taxes, VAT, charges, carrier fees, taxes on taxes etc…What!
Solution- Book Via Our Trusted Booking Engine
While most people dont have this luxury, there is Absolutely No reason WHY YOU CANT if you so chose. When we book via our ROVIA booking ngine, we know what you see is what you pay for. And even if taxes and fees are included. You still get a better value for money deal!
See an example of a British Airways Flight to Budapest and exact same flight via Dreamtrips. The dirrefence in price is more than $100. Note that the BA fees are quoted in British Pounds GBP, whish is stronger than the dollar. Therefore, the price is way higher when turned to dollars!
The DreamTrips Price for a flight to Budapest, No sneaky Fees!
The only thing is, when we are traveling to europe, we use the cheaper low cost airlines like Easyjet, Jet2, Mornarch, Whizzair etc. The travel time is way lower. And we do find some awesome deals via out travel club as well! Learn how you too could be part of our invitation only Travel club here!
4 More Sneaky Airline Costs to look out for below:
Well, did you get value? What was your biggest take away?
By the way, do not expect to see these fees to diappear anytime soon. Yet here at Pkjulesworld, we would like to see the option of paying for changing a flight to disappear, thats pure robbery!
You should also use common sense and take a light scarf or pashmina, you can use as a pillow or extra blanket. Save some money by taking your own Snacks. That way you dont have to pay for overpriced airport food!
And definitely check the small print and unchek or check any boxes you need to to avoid beig charged because you missed that little check box!
RECOMMENDED: 10 SECFRET PLACES FOR THE BEST FLIGHT DEALS.
And for the fun news: right now, we are right in one of our best destinations. Look out for some insta-good images and Livestreaming too. Cant wait to share some more awesome Travel related stuff with you.
I hope you never get caught up. Did you get value on the Sneaky Airline Fees and how to avoid them. Definitely share this with anyone you know who travels lots. And you are well armed for your next flight too!
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See, Do, and Be more!
Dr Paul Kalungi

mail: admin[at]pkjulesworld.com
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Sneaky, sneaky fees! I do travel, but not very often so I have probably paid these fees when I could have avoided it. Thanks for listing them down so I can be more aware of them the next time I book a flight to somewhere.
Glad to be of service to you. Bookmark and keep handy for when you next travel 🙂
So tired of these fees!! It is insane!!
We are the consumers, if we stopped crying and Took a Stand globally, DR WHO style, the airlines would stop fleecing us Ruthie!
The information you shared in this blog is the most efficiently reliable one. We hope to read more number of reliable blogs……. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you got value Ewr 🙂
Thanks for sharing this info. I will keep an eye on these fees the next time I’ll book my flights.
The first time I was charged for a carry on bag I laughed out loud. Except…it wasn’t funny.
Exactly Rosey, It just isnt funny esp. when you consider the cost of the flight ticket. Unless it was a dirt cheap fee. Eitehr way we must be informed and given a choice!
I only have flown once, but I intend to fly more. It is helpful to know about all these hidden fees before flying. Thanks for sharing this information!
Hi Dawn,
Glad you got value and Hppe you will be flying more often 🙂
I can’t believe an airplane diverted from its course only to disembark a passenger who refused to pay $12 for a blanket. Wow. Lots of common sense in there. LOL. Thanks for this post Julie. I need to be more aware of these charges.
I am glad you shared this article. There are so many hidden fees when booking a flight! And they mask it with such superfluous terms so you’d just go ahead and pay it. I will share this post with my friend who loves to travel. She’ll be happy to read about this too.
very helpful article! specialy to those who are always in travels like my Aunt! I think she can totally relate to this post!
Hey Kelly feel free to share this article with your aunt as well 🙂
Airlines are such a headache, yet we have no choice but to give in to their tricks because we want to travel. It’s sick that they keep taking advantage of paying customers. Anyway, these are great tips!
Glad ypu got value Carol. we have to rise up to the Airlines and get our power back!
I make sure to find a flight that fits all my needs exactly. I don’t like the idea of having to adjust at such a short period of time. The airlines can be sneaky and it’s not going to do your pocket any good.
Yup, sneakyb is the work Elizabeth…so planning and research is a must! Being part of a community that shares such tidbits is a Godsend 🙂
We’ve forgotten snacks also at home. It drives me crazy to pay the inflated prices at airports and on planes. With the rules these days, I always know that I have to buy water in the airport after we go through security.
Yes Nancy, we also buy the necessary hydration at the airports. Snacks are a must to pack even if travelling alone!
Very helpful! It is so frustrating all those extra fees. It makes it impossible to accurately plan a trip when so much stuff is added on at the end. These will come in handy for my next trip.
Planning tripsnwith flights became a thing of the past 5 years ago! Unless you buy a cheap package holiday!
Its sad that airlines have recently begun to add fees to their fares. Its bad to hike the prices against propriety. Offering blanket or pillow is nothing, but its a new strategy to hike the price of fares.
Exactly Neha,
Yet we consumers have the power to cvhange that. but we have passed it to the airlines 🙂
Charging 12$ for a blanket during a flight?! I would never pay that and they wouldn’t either so they have some nerve to actually charge it. Sadly, I did end up paying 150$ just to cancel a flight I booked online once, due to my baby being sick. And even though I explained this to them they didnt really care. Guess this is the reason I don’t fly much anymore. I cant stand all those sneaky fees they try to charge from you for no legit reason.
And what a pity that is Dana. When the very people who make these airlines have to be treated like a nuisance for simply attending to life’s emergencies! 🙂
It really is shameful how many different ways airlines have recently begun to add fees to their fares. I agree with you that it is ridiculous to have to pay an exorbitant fee to change a flight, especially one that you have booked online. Paying for what they call a blanket or a pillow is just laughable, there is no way I would pay for either of those.
Hey Jessica,
It is a travesty yet we still pay. we gotta put our feet down. Consumers are the king yet we allow ourselves to be treated like slaves!