Flying has become more complicated than simply buying a ticket and showing up at the airport. Even when airfare seems clearly priced, a growing number of hidden airline fees can quietly increase the total cost of an already-expensive trip. But it’s not just fees for checked bags or seat upgrades. Airlines now impose a range of lesser-known charges that often appear during booking, check-in, or at the airport itself. Surprise!
From small administrative costs to penalties for minor missteps, these sneaky fees can add up quickly. Here are some of the annoying ways airlines are nickel-and-diming passengers with extra charges.
Online Booking ‘Usage’ Fees (Yes, for Buying a Ticket Online)
Some ultra-low-cost carriers add a per-segment “passenger usage” style charge for reservations made online (or via reservations centers), and the workaround is often booking in-person at the airport. Ah, talk about convenience (sarcasm).
Call Center/Assisted Booking Fees
Booking by phone can trigger a separate “call center reservations” fee — an easy one to miss if you assume the fare is the fare.
Fees for Paper Documents (Paper Itineraries/Receipts)
Some airlines note fees for requesting paper itineraries or receipts by mail — small on its own, but a classic “death by a thousand cuts” add-on.
Printing a Boarding Pass or ‘Airport Check-in’ Paperwork Fees
Forgetting to check in correctly (or arriving without the right boarding pass format) can mean paying at the airport for staff help or document printing — especially common among certain budget airlines pushing app-only boarding.
Seat Selection Fees That Turn ‘Basic Economy’ Into a Bait-and-Bump
Basic economy-style fares can restrict seat choice (or delay seat assignment), nudging travelers into paying extra just to pick a seat or avoid an undesirable assignment.
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‘Fare Hold’/’Price Lock’ Fees (Paying Just to Think About It)
Some airlines (like American Airlines and Air France) offer the option to hold a fare beyond the standard 24-hour window — often for a fee — so travelers pay to avoid price swings while they decide.
Name Change/Correction Fees (Even When It’s a Minor Mistake)
Name edits can come with steep fees depending on how the change is processed (self-serve vs. agent/airport desk), turning a typo into a surprisingly expensive problem. United, for example, charges $100.
Fees When Changing Flights Booked Through Third Parties
If a ticket is booked via a travel agent/OTA, airline changes may involve additional fees or restrictions beyond the airline’s standard policy — an easy gotcha when plans shift.
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Unaccompanied Minor Service Fees
When a child travels alone, airlines may require an unaccompanied minor program with a substantial each-way service fee layered on top of the fare.
The Broader ‘Junk Fee’ Ecosystem Regulators Are Targeting
Even as rules push airlines and ticket agents to be more transparent about ancillary fees, many charges still appear late in the purchase path or vary by traveler/status—making comparison shopping harder than it looks.
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