It seems like everything rings up for a lot more money than it once did, but perhaps worst of all are the things that used to be complimentary but now come with a fee. We’re talking everything from grocery bags and and in-flight meals to verification badges on social media — it now all comes at an extra cost.
Grocery Bags
In over 100 US municipalities, customers who don’t bring their reusable totes must now pay a fee per plastic bag they use at the grocery store. The legislation is in an attempt to cut down on single-use plastic pollution. Boulder, Colorado, saw a 70% decrease in plastic bag use since implementing the fee, and, as of 2023, had raised over $1 million to fund community services.
Hotel Amenities
Hotel room rates used to cover everything associated with your stay — pools, gyms, Wi-Fi, newspapers, etc. In the late ‘90s, hotels began tacking on “resort fees” to cover luxury amenities, a practice that has since spread even to budget hotels. In 2023, the average resort fee among US hotels was $38.82. Lately, bipartisan legislation has proposed hotels be required to show resort or other hidden fees upfront.
Extra Sauce
Many restaurants have begun charging customers for extra condiments, including premium sauces and fast-food packets.
Taco Bell allots one packet of its new avocado verde salsa, which comes in a larger packet, with every cantina chicken menu item, but for more, customers must fork over 20 cents per packet.
Air
Compressed air to fill your tires used to be a common free amenity at gas stations, but customers may now find stations charging around $1.50 to use the pump. Skyler McKinley of AAA told a Colorado Fox affiliate that machines cost the gas station energy and can be costly to repair, leading some to switch to pay models or partner with vendors. Still, some states must legally provide free air to customers who pay for gas or other goods or services.
Television
TV’s only price was once the cost of the machine and sitting through ads. Then came basic cable, premium channels, streaming platforms, and FAST (free ad-supported TV). Americans spend an average of $46 per month on streaming services, while smart TVs increasingly advertise to owners not just during commercial breaks, but all the time via screensavers, home screens and even the streaming service buttons on their remotes. Jeez.
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In-Flight Meals
In 2010, Continental Airlines cut free domestic in-flight meals, the last major airline to do so. Per CNN, US airlines were forced to reduce costs after the Sept. 11 attacks led to reduced demand, leading to a decline in services. Now, passengers typically must pay for food beyond a few snacks — unless, of course, you fly first class.
Twitter Verification
Users who could show Twitter that they were a celebrity, journalist, or other public figure would receive a blue verified checkmark. Following Elon Musk’s takeover — and name change to X — the platform began charging for verification. A checkmark currently starts at $7 per month — though some public figures found their checkmarks randomly restored in April 2024. Meta also offers paid subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram users who want a verification badge.
Covid-19 Vaccines
The US government once purchased the Covid-19 vaccine and boosters from drugmakers and made them available, for free, to Americans. Later, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program ensured free shots. Now, due to lack of funding, uninsured Americans who received the latest vaccine, issued in September 2024, at their local pharmacy may have to pay about $200, per CNN.
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Room Service
Cruise ships notoriously charge extra fees for all sorts of things, inflating the total cost with taxes, fee, and port charges. But some even tack on fees for room service, which used to be complimentary. Royal Caribbean now charges $7.95 for room service, regardless of order size, plus gratuity.
Disney World Amenities
It’s no secret that it’s become increasingly expensive for families to visit any of Disney’s theme parks, but it goes beyond the entrance fee. Over the last several years, Disney World has started charging for previously free perks, including MagicBand bracelets, which store guests’ tickets, room keys, etc., resort parking, FastPasses, and more.
Hangers
Tesco stores in the UK began testing a 10p charge — about $0.13 — for hangers in April. Previously, shoppers who purchased apparel at the supermarket chain would get the accompanying hanger free of charge, but Tesco hopes charging a small fee for hangers will reduce plastic waste by preventing customers who don’t intend to keep them to leave them at the store to be reused.
Directory Assistance
If you’re old enough — and used a telephone in Canada or the US — you may have dialed 411 for information, such as phone number and address of a residence or business. This was free until the ’70s, when AT&T began charging to dissuade reported misuse. Today, AT&T no longer has 411 service at all, while major carriers charge a fee. That said, most modern customers just use Google.
ATM Service
When the first ATM debuted in 1967 in London, only that bank’s customers could use it. That changed in the 1970s, thanks to communication networks between banks, but it wasn’t until 1988 that one bank — Valley Bank of Nevada — began leveraging service fees when members of other banks used its machines. In 1996, two large ATM operators — Cirrus and Plus — also began allowing ATM surcharges, and now, they’re to be expected. Today, the average out-of-network ATM fee is $4.77, per Bankrate.
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