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Major airlines, such as Continental, American, Delta, United and US Airways, have implemented peak travel surcharges for most of the summer.
Published Saturday, June 5, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Updated Saturday, June 5, 2010 | 7:23 p.m.
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First, there’s the plane ticket that costs a few hundred dollars. Then once on board, there are the $3 for a pair of headphones, $7 for a cocktail, $20 to check a bag and another $30 for more leg room — all of which can break your vacation budget before you even land at your destination.
This summer, travelers are being hit with even more fees, thanks to major airlines tacking on surcharges just for traveling during the warmer months. It’s not just bad news for travelers. The fees could have an effect on destination cities such as Las Vegas that are struggling to regain the visitation numbers of pre-recession years.
Major airlines, such as Continental, American, Delta, United and US Airways, have implemented peak travel surcharges on 74 of the 98 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The airlines have added the highest fee — $30 — on Sunday flights and $10 fees on less popular travel days such as Mondays and Tuesdays.
The surcharges can be a significant expense for families or groups traveling on tight budgets. A family of five traveling on $30 days could pay an extra $300 round-trip.
Peak travel fees normally have been reserved for travel around big holidays, but airlines are cashing in on the expected increase in travel this summer. Airline travel has declined over the last two summers, but the Air Transport Association of America, the trade group that represents most U.S. airlines, expects air travel to rise 1 percent this summer over summer 2009, for a total of about 202 million passengers.
“With the idea that people are sick of cutting back on traveling and are ready to escape reality for a little bit, now the airlines are calling the entire summer ‘peak travel season’ rather than just focusing on specific holiday weekends,” said Gabe Saglie, senior editor of Travelzoo, whose website and newsletter advertise travel deals.
The surcharges come on top of airfares that are 10 percent to 40 percent higher than last summer, Saglie said.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which partners with several airlines to offer vacation packages, declined to comment on the summer surcharges.
Chris Elliott, a consumer advocate and author of a syndicated travel column, said an extra $30 could affect where vacationers go.
“People are very price sensitive right now and instead of flying to those big destination cities with higher fares, they may choose other vacations spots,” Elliott said. “They could make a decision not to go to Las Vegas and go somewhere like Branson (Missouri) instead or take a cruise to gamble.”
Saglie said people might take advantage of low fares to the Caribbean.
Elliott and Saglie said surcharges could have greater effects on convention and business travelers, who are locked into certain travel days.
The U.S. Transportation Department proposed rules this week that would require airlines to break out each fee individually so travelers can compare airlines and know exactly what they are paying for.
The proposed rules won’t lessen the fees; they’ll just make travelers more aware of them.
“In a perfect world, we would all stop flying because of all these shenanigans, but that’s not how it works,” Elliott said. “For a lot of us, this summer is the first time people are going to be taking real vacations. Everyone is expecting business to come back and people aren’t going to opt out of flying. They’re just going to be a little more frustrated.”
CORRECTION: This story was updated to reflect that about 202 million people are expected to travel by air this summer. The last name of Travelzoo senior editor Gabe Saglie was corrected. | (June 7, 2010)
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Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train , Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train, BULLET TRAIN !!!!! Let's get it funded, built, and GET OUT OF OUR ENSLAVEMENT TO THE AIRLINES!!!!!!!
boycott the airlines until they straighten out their act. i will drive as long as gas prices are cheaper.
I noticed that Southwest Airlines names wasnt on this list which is why I will continue to fly with them in the future. Not as much BS fees and charges as the rest of the bunch.
Well,if a $7 cocktail and a $20 bag fee bust your Vegas budget,you really should have stayed home anyways.
We're flying back to Vegas in September and we got fabulous prices on Spirit. It helps to join their club and reserve ahead of time. We are paying about the same amount to fly that we paid in 1995 on our first trip to Vegas!
I think former frequent visitors will cut back. The one visit a year people will still come.
We won't be coming back any time soon.
Higher airfares will definitely have a noticeable effect on Las Vegas tourism.
I checked airfares on Expedia for the Christmas week, returning home from Las Vegas well before New Year's Eve, and the fares were at least $100.00 higher per person on average than I am paying in September. I won't be visiting at those high fares.
This recession has persuaded many regular visitors to hit Las Vegas once or twice a year instead of three or four times. Our travel budgets are also smaller than they used to be. Our gambling budget also was dropped from $500.00 each per trip to $300.00 each.
Yes I think overpricing by the airlines will negatively impact tourists flying to Las Vegas.
Right now from NJ is about 550 - 650$pp to fly in on July 24th. That's too high!!
It's was 250$ last year. Not sure why they are so high and it does not help
tourism.
Love Vegas.......................
And when people start to cut back on air travel, the airlines will panic, as always, and reduce fares and extra costs. The public has to play poker with the airlines, calling their bluff by not booking flights for a week or so...and, sit back and watch.
environprotector: "Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train, Bullet Train"
You mean Maglev? Would like to see it too. Really any high speed rail. And not the BS high speed 120 max a lot of states got money for last year. They were going 100+ MPH daily 70 years ago. Don't forget Reid wrote in the HS rail bill no rail money for Nevada. Also he took away the money already there from the Maglev and handed to airport area road improvements which was already started and funded.
Charging for the first 2 checked bags is a wrong. Not as bad as charging for the toilet. But headphones and cocktails is not needed to travel. If you can't go a few hours on a domestic flight without a cocktail you need help. $7 is a steel compared to the Chicago O'hare bar and maybe others.
An increase of 1% is 202 million people in the summer travel season? That means that 20 billion people fly during the summer? Considering there are about 6 billion people in the world and not all of them fly. Consider that half do, that amounts to 7 flights per person? The numbers do not add up on this one.
My family and I take 2-3 vacations each summer. This year we are going to the Rockies for a family reunion and that's it. We are not going to Vegas/LA for our usual second vacation. Instead we are staying home and have joined the local Country Club.
Not only is the airfare high but who wants to deal with that crazy airport mess of parking, shuttles, arrival 2 hours early, and the TSA mess.
Fly SOUTHWEST! Its the only way to go!
spirit airlines IS cheap but if they have mechanical problems they tell you its so cheap come back tomorrow and try again.
Flight prices are going up because of all the nonsense at the airport security and because of petrol price. Slap a new CO2-tax on top of everything and tickets will cost even more. Let the airliners do their own security checks. I'll fly with a company that is secure enough in my book and at the same time is cheap.
I can't see train being an alternative, as it's just government controlled as flying. Only viable alternative is something that is not licensed to death by the gov.
But yeah, having extra cost on luggage is not a good thing. Increase ticket price, but offer something new. Serve food at the gates instead of on the plane.
The "summer fee" sounds pretty much as nasty as the "resort amenity fee", implimented by most Vegas' casinos. Not only enough that it's too tight in the aircrafts so you can't barely sit normally, but now you also have to pay a few because you opt to fly during the summer season. Some marketeers probably believe they're smart. But I think not. It's gonna piss off more tourists than they may think and keep them from coming to Vegas for gambling.
Flying used to be a luxury way of travelling. It has turned into a hassleful stressy matter. very sad. I will only fly if necessary. The good days are over , definetely.
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Bore Us:
Aren't there any casinos in Europe within train distance of you?
Boris seems to thing that his opinion counts ... Well if you dont like, it stay home like everyone else .
Stop commenting on every little thing......... we dont care about what you think...
I promise////
Don't care !
It won't help.
It won't just affect Las Vegas 'tourism', it will affect all 50 states tourism!
I started boycotting the airlines 10 years ago when they lost my luggage; flights would be canceled at the last minute, and the congestion at the airport was always miserable.
I use Amtrak; I can cross country in 30 to 35 hours - it's cheaper; I can see the scenery instead of clouds, and enjoy better food.
When I'm not using Amtrak, I prefer to drive if it's less than 2500 miles; you can stop when you want to - eat when you want to - shop at a grocery store and pay less for the cost of food. You can stretch your legs and take side-trips - it's not a 'straight shot' with no exceptions as it is when a person flies.
I'm just hoping they'll have business programs and discounts for those who have to use the airplane for BUSINESS travel.
For vacationers, we can adjust our schedules and mode of transportation.....
United, if that is all you got from that article, you are pathetic. Get over yourself.
The point is, with all the added fees nowadays, you end up paying no less than $500 round trip to fly anywhere. It's sick.
Air Line sur charges will affect many traveler's to LasVegas
Greed strikes again
Doc,gimme a break.
I read an article about the number of complaints an airline receives and all the big 5 were on the top of the list. Why pay more when your going to get the worst service. The airline with the least complaints, Southwest, three years running. I fly nothing but Southwest, why, no baggage fee, cheaper tickets, easier frequent flyers club, many times no charge to change your ticket, never late or cancel, free refreshments. I don't know why more people don't fly Southwest. Southwest also flys to just about ever major airport, and from Las Vegas most flights are non-stop. People you have choices, if you don't want to be nickel and dime to death, fly Southwest or Allegiant Air. I'm not an employee of either airline.
It will of course have a negative effect. We are coming this summer but we are having to be very selective when we come.
Oh yes - the airlines!
back when oil was $40 bucks a barrel, and you needed to go some place on short notice (domestic) shell out $1200 bucks! Then 9-11 and we felt sorry for the airlines (now consolidated of course) and gave then a bailout. Oil went to $140 on the Bush/Cheney "oil companies are grooovy" watch - and Airlines started the nickle & dime fuel, baggage, change and paper ticket service charges - would make a credit card bank PROUD! Oil drops to $70 and the fees never stopped.
Most airlines have trimmed the routes and parked planes in the desert JUST so they can cut seats and charge $700 again for a domestic flight.
I say - drive baby drive! or stay home baby - stay home!
Will the fees hurt Vegas? Depends on if they target certain airports/destinations and leave others alone.
If flights to Vegas get charged consistently, and flights to, for example, San Francisco don't, then it will hurt Vegas.
These add-ons are all over the leisure/travel industry. It lets the carrier/hotelier advertise low fares/rates, but after all the add-ons, you end up paying through the nose.
Yet again, the superiority of Southwest Airlines is all too apparent. I will continue to choose them, as I have for some time now. Anymore, I choose Southwest even if the others offer a cheaper fare, 'cause it just provides more dependable, decent service altogether in my experience (and my experience has certainly given the entire gamet of airlines plenty of chances to prove and even redeem themselves since Southwest unfortunately doesn't go everywhere I do).
BTW, try flying Qantas or Air New Zealand if you ever want to see the type of service that would make fees reasonable and justifiable.
Well say its not so... If you really want to boycott,, drive to your destination.. 9/11 was a good example of people doing just that...Driving when the air was shut down... Did alot of driving then ,, why not now...Plus look at all the stuff you can stop and see on the way to your destination....
all airlines are doing is adding to their own demise. dont need them to pull their crap on me when i travel, so its adios, air travel; you were great in the 60s and 70s especially to hawaii.
It is ridiculous how the airlines can get away with so many charges. My son his wife and some friends went to florida this week and my son figured that he and his wife could just take one suit case since they were allowed 50 lbs ea they figured one suit case at 70 lbs would be fine which i also thought it would be fine were we wrong they got charged $143 because it passed the fifty lbs and was 8 inches to tall. how in the heck is it possible if it was for 2 people so actually they were 30 lbs under wieght and if they would have had a second piece of luggage it would have been longer than 8 inches so now they will have to buy a smaller suitcase and leave that one there or pay $143 to get it back. So they will be out almost $300 which is totally not fair that is a big chunk of there spending money. It makes me so mad!!!!
I'm 4 1/2 hours away by car, we always drive. $60 worth of gas for the round trip can't be beat and I have the car when I get there. Nothing against the airlines, but I vote with my wallet. When we flew to Atlanta a few years back ($200 R/T) the airline was the way to go. But nowadays, we will drive as far as from California to Wisconsin or Canada and not even think of flying. 2 drivers and 70-75 mph limit allows for a lot of ground to be covered in a day. No baggage fees in my car trunk.
The fact is every where people turn they are getting hit with various fees, surcharges and other creative ticky-tacky methods to extract more money. People aren't awash in money and are watching how they spend their money. Add in the hassle at the airport from baggage fee to $1.00 7-up's and the outrageous flight costs people are thinking twice on where they're going to spend their money. I wouldn't be surprised if LV visitor traffic remains low.
What is the LVCVA's involvement with airlines and vacation packages?
If they are involved with the airlines as the article states, maybe then the questions should be asked of the LVCVA why they have allowed so many flights by US Airways to leave Las Vegas high and dry?
The prices on Southwest and the other carriers have all increased with US Airways pulling out service into Las Vegas.
Instead of focusing on a single flight from Paris, how about focusing on adding more non stops from the East Coast instead?
"It is ridiculous how the airlines can get away with so many charges. My son his wife and some friends went to florida this week and my son figured that he and his wife could just take one suit case since they were allowed 50 lbs ea they figured one suit case at 70 lbs would be fine which i also thought it would be fine were we wrong they got charged $143 because it passed the fifty lbs and was 8 inches to tall. how in the heck is it possible if it was for 2 people so actually they were 30 lbs under wieght and if they would have had a second piece of luggage it would have been longer than 8 inches so now they will have to buy a smaller suitcase and leave that one there or pay $143 to get it back. So they will be out almost $300 which is totally not fair that is a big chunk of there spending money. It makes me so mad!!!!"
gordafatty, Where does it say that you can have one heavy bag instead of two lighter bags and only pay for a bag? Nowhere! It seems that your son and daughter-in-law are not very bright people there. Inexperianced fliers make life suck for the experianced fliers. It is actually cheaper to fly today than it was 25 years ago. I have been researching the airline industry for the last one and a half years for a Masters Thesis on airlines. When I see comments from the public about airlines it makes me laugh at their ignorant comments.