baggage fees

Never Pay for These 6 Things Again

Some of life's little luxuries haven't gotten any more necessary -- but they have become cheaper. From learning a new language to finding a great read, these six things no longer require a line item in your personal budget. Go ahead, indulge for less.

Why Spirit Airlines Will Never Be Great Again

Looking at Spirit Airlines' financials, you might think the low-cost carrier is a smart buy. But don't be fooled by the balance sheets: The Spirit business model that generates profits carries the seeds of its own destruction by generating toxic ill will with its passengers.

3 More Travel Tips for Keeping the Cost of Your Flight in Check

Finding a good airfare can be tough, and if you've ever sacrificed convenience for a cheaper ticket, you may have been surprised at the hidden costs that jacked up your overall price. But those fees don't have to be a mystery -- and they're not unavoidable.

5 Surefire Tips for Saving on Summer Air Travel

If you're one of the many people taking to the not-so-friendly skies this summer, you'll pay extra for nearly everything but the security pat down. Hoping to glide past some of that nickel and diming? Here are five foolproof tips:

Why Fly? The Case Against Air Travel

It's bad enough that air fares and extra fees have been rising as fast as a plane taking off -- now, travelers must wonder if aircraft have been properly inspected. Are the costs, pains and risks of flying reaching the point where frequent fliers should reconsider their transportation choices?

While Airlines Are Profiting Again, Fliers Are Suffering

Of all the industries that have achieved record profits recently, none have posted more remarkable results than the airline industry. For the first time in a decade, the industry is on a glide path to profitability -- but it's getting there by squeezing its customers.

At Least These Extra Airline Fees Come With Little Luxuries

Those irritating fees aren't going away, but over the next few years, some of them will be attached to new a la carte services that travelers may be happier to pay for. Think personal concierge services, intercity rail ticket sales -- and even in-flight spa treatments.

At Last, New Protections for Air Travelers Will Land in 2011

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is raising the bar for the treatment of airline passengers this spring. You'll see more transparency in ticket pricing, better deals for bumped passengers, and reimbursement of luggage fees when checked bags are lost or delayed.

Spirit Airlines Calls Carry-On Baggage Fee a Success

The new fees, which went into effect on Sunday, aim to cut delays by discouraging customers from stuffing overhead compartments on planes. Spirit is the first airline in the industry to introduce such a fee.

Savings Experiment: Packing Light and Cheap

Airline prices may appear to be at a historic low, but that's just a flight of fancy. In fact, the major carriers have just shifted their costs to extra fees, and the ugliest one of all is the one you pay to check luggage. At $20 a bag, a family of four will pay $80 each way, or $160 round-trip. You can save $40 if you reserve space ahead of time, but don't even think about adding a second checked bag, which adds another $60 round-trip, per bag.

Yahoo's Airport Stunt Has Legs

As part of Yahoo's year-end do-gooder campaign, it paid baggage fees for travelers at two California airports. The gimmick tied in with Yahoo's mission of easing life's navigation, but if the online media company is wise, it could be the seed for a new and better marketing campaign.