Consumers paid more than US$9.2 billion in fees to U.S. airlines in 2010 but half of that amount was hidden from most travelers when they bought tickets, says a new study.
The reason: the airlines refuse to share their fee information with travel agents and other distributors, says the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA), a non-profit organization.
The CTA said it did the study to gather information on ancillary fees, which are often not visible if booked by third parties. The group studied major US airlines financial reports in coordination with Open Allies for Airfare Transparency, a coalition representing companies in the managed travel community.
“Airlines should be able to charge whatever they want for their services, but they should have to share all of those prices with travelers in advance, so consumers can make informed buying decisions,” said Andrew Weinstein, executive director of Open Allies.
The study found on average passengers paid a total of $36.80 in fees for every round trip ticket—nearly $150 for a family of four. This study is believed to be the first to look at how the hidden fees imposed by major US airlines have impacted the cost of air travel in 2010.
By David Wilkening
