Would the average flier be happier paying a $300 fee-less fare, or a $250 fare that is all fees? It is something the airlines should study. But, nevertheless, heavy fees seem to work for RyanAir’s pricing model.

If you’re talking about an actual fare display which really only a travel agent would see, then yes, it is excluded. But any consumer-facing site includes the amount.

Yes a real actual fare display that the airlines themselves use as well as any travel agency and onsite corporate travel department. Using a consumer-facing site a traveler would never really know the full breakdown of the base fare so wouldn’t know what the real fare is and how much the airline adds on for surcharges without telling you. Not that you have a choice on paying the surcharge, but at least the consumer would know the extra breakdown of where their money is going and could complain if they felt it was unjust. After all, elected officials love pleasing voters and could make changes.

Not really, if you look in an airline computer either via AA reservations or a travel agent the price in the fare display does not show surcharges.

If you’re talking about an actual fare display which really only a travel agent would see, then yes, it is excluded. But any consumer-facing site includes the amount.

I went to aa.com and looked for a one way from LAX to Chicago on Jan 3. It showed $271 as the first result when using the pricing & schedule option. When you go to the next page, it shows a grand total of $281.60. The $10.60 that wasn’t included is made up of the September 11 security fee of $2.50, the $3.60 segment tax, and a $4.50 PFC. That’s it. The surcharge is included in the base fare.

David SFeastbay wrote:
David – that’s not what’s happening here. Surcharges are included in the base fare whenever they’re advertised and they’ll be shown in the final price that you’ll see on any website.

Not really, if you look in an airline computer either via AA reservations or a travel agent the price in the fare display does not show surcharges. You would have to look up to see what they are. At least for this blog it’s only $9.30 plus tax, but surcharges on international fares can really shock people. A (example) LAX-CDG-LAX on AA in business class DRT7EU would show as $8266.00 round trip if you just look at the airlines fare display. Then when your travel person books it, it adds 130.00 surcharge EACH WAY plus if going via DFW another 4.80 surcharge for a base fare now of $8531.00. That’s a lot higher then being told 8266.00, and taxes haven’t been added yet which would be (today) another 186.40. So you can see why I don’t like surcharges if they are added by the airlines themselves. Some surcharges are mandated by a countries government, like HKG, but if an airline just tacks one on then they need to be honest about it and increase the fare by that amount. They shouldn’t try and trick the public into thinking their fare is the same as everyone else and let the public think the rest of the amount is impossed by the government.

Ok getting off my soap box now.

What if you have tickets for those dates that were already purchased months ago?

Absolutely nothing changes. This is just a fare increase, so if you already have your ticket, then you don’t need to worry.

I’m sick of fees and surcharges, just raise the fare and pay your bills like other businesses do. If you have to pay the extra $10 for certain travel dates then raise the fare. It’s just another way of tricking the public as the airline lets you think your fare is $99.00 but everything else that adds up to a total of $200.00 is taxes. They lead the public into thinking the extra money is government taxes which is not true.

It’s a quiet day for comments today . . .

David – that’s not what’s happening here. Surcharges are included in the base fare whenever they’re advertised and they’ll be shown in the final price that you’ll see on any website.