Stingiest airlines in new fees

Friendliest to stingiest airlines…in terms of new fees? Many would agree with Time Magazine’s assessment: It ranked US Airways stingiest, partly for charging for water, and Southwest the friendliest (and having the most fun with their “Bags Fly Free” advertising).

Here are the other winners and losers.

Southwest was ranked #1 for being “the one major airline that is bucking the trend of increasing fees”

Virgin America was given a “A pretty good deal” rating. Number 3 Delta “has done the best job of holding the line on fees.”

JetBlue was ranked fourth for being “still relatively flyer-friendly.“ Continental followed for still offering free meals such as sandwiches and pizza.

Northwest came out #6 (“recently increased the fee for making flight changes to $150”), American was next (“Also hitting you up for $150 to make flight changes, and charging $15 to $25 for the first and second checked bag”), followed by United (“An extra wrinkle — the highest standby fee in the business: $75 if you want to fly standby on a different flight the same day”).

US Air ranked at the bottom in part for breaking “new ground by starting to charge for all beverages.”

Report by David Wilkening