Making sense of the prices

In the good old days, you got in the Rolls and your chauffeur took you down to the airport where you got on the Zeppelin and flew off in a haze of champagne and caviar. Back then, everyone knew what was included in the price (apart from the unexpected bar-b-q when landing). Today, the experience is sometimes more like a cattle truck in the economy class, an experience made worse as people discover that what was previously bundled into the ticket price is now an add-on. Airlines all round the world have discovered the "budget" approach to pricing. Some are honest. They describe themselves as "low-cost", "no frills", "discount" or "budget" which tells you exactly what to expect. But the traditional "full cost" airlines have recently come under financial pressure. The rise in the cost of aviation fuel and the fall in passenger numbers put their profits under pressure. Today, even though the cost of fuel has dropped, the recession means people have less disposable income and so are flying less. As a marketing gambit, these airlines have been reducing the ticket to the price for sitting in the plane. Everything else is charged for separately as you go.

For these purposes, it makes no difference whether you're buying in a bricks-and-mortar travel agency or online. You need to make sense of the ticket prices. Now even the so-called legacy carriers are charging separately for confirming the seat reservation, for the use of a blanket and pillow, and for in-flight food and drinks. To give you a sample of the problems you may face, let's take the issue of bags. In May last year, the news broke that American Airlines was charging for checking in a single bag. Within weeks, all the major airlines followed suit. The US Transportation Department was strong in its criticism of the airlines. Although no enforcement action was taken for failing to provide a timely notice of the change in the cost of travel, the Department made it clear that any future breach of regulations would result in action. The airlines are now more compliant with the regulations requiring transparency of prices. But this does not mean the prices are easy to find. You have to search the airlines websites for the small print. Travel agencies are equally lost. The American Society of Travel Agents has also protested the failure of the airlines to give accurate details of their charges. Sadly, that means you cannot also rely on what real world or online agents tell you. All you can do is hope for the best.

We need to keep this real. If you're buying cheap air tickets from a budget airline, expect to pay separately for everything other than sitting in the plane. Carry cash or credit cards with you when you leave home. Even when you're buying from a "reputable" airline, there will be some charges. Finding out what they are before you leave home can be challenging. That is part of the price you pay when you buy cheap air tickets.

David Mayer is a frequent contributor to http://www.infoairfares.com/making-sense-of-the-prices.html and is a highly regarded writer, having professionally dealt with numerous subjects. Visit the site to read David Mayer's contributions.