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They Have to Make Money Somehow 
 
 Benét J. Wilson is a freelance aviation and travel writer and 
blogger at Aviation Queen. She has covered aviation since 1992, 
has worked for two airlines and an aircraft engine 
manufacturer, and is working on her private pilot’s certificate. 
 
 
JULY 18, 2012 
 
When it comes to airline fees, travelers have no one but themselves to blame. 
All of us hunt down the lowest possible fares and pat ourselves on the back. 
But like it or not, airlines are businesses, and businesses need to make money 
to survive. 
If travelers don't like the extra fees, they have no one but themselves to 
blame. 
And despite airlines’ best efforts to raise fares, we still refuse to pay them. 
The average roundtrip airfare rose from $307 in 2005 to $368 through the 
fourth quarter of 2011, reports the Department of Transportation's Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics. So carriers are getting that money from you with 
more fees. 
The number and amount of fees depends on the airline you’re flying, 
according to this chart from Smarter Travel. On one side, Spirit Airlines 
charges a fee for just about every function of a flight, including boarding pass 
printing, seat selection and carry-on (yes, carry-on) bags. On the other side, 
Southwest Airlines seems to me to be the least fee-crazy carrier. 
I recently had to book two airline tickets, and I weighed the complete cost of 
the tickets. For one ticket, I chose Southwest because it had the best fare, 
you can check two bags for free, there was no fee to change a ticket and I pay 
only $10 each way for Early Bird boarding, which guarantees you an A 
boarding pass. 
For the other ticket, I chose United Airlines because of the lower fare, a more 
convenient schedule, the fact that I could avoid paying a checked bag fee and 
a lower chance I’d have to shell out $150 to change the fare. And I will 
 
 
consider paying extra for Economy Plus if the option is given to me when I 
check in. 
In the end, you do have some control over what airline fees you will and 
won’t pay if you plan carefully. 
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/18/the-airlines-and-their-nickel-
and-dime-strategy/airlines-have-to-make-money-somehow