I completely understand the need for a degree of benefits and additional fees.
As a travel agent/consultant, my colleagues and I talk regularly about cancellation fees. Flights may have been cancelled, but passengers are left with very little money in their pockets. However, cancellation fees are a separate term. This post focuses on the increase in reservation, seating and resort fees when travelers actually travel.
Some fees, such as increases in resort, extra-person and seat-reservation fees, “are increasing simply because the travel industry can.”
Sometimes hotels, rental cars and airlines tell us what additional fees will be. Other times, the fees are obscure (almost hidden, but can be).
Hotel mandatory resort fees are an ongoing problem.
Resort fees have long been a problem. They have continued to grow, while often including fewer and fewer features. Additionally, hotels in the city have also added a “destination charge.” Recently, some hotels have waived them post-COVID. But for example, in Hawaii, many hotel resort fees are closer to $50 per night. This increase in fees continues even though some of the facilities previously included in those fees are unavailable. Additionally, many if not most resort fees do not include parking.
Also, as my son grew up, I remembered that some hotels charged for an extra bed in the room. Sure enough, bringing in and making the bed every evening is extra work. But now, many hotels are charging significant fees for an extra person in the room, regardless of the bed.
When three 18-year-old girls want to share a room in Hawaii to celebrate their high school graduation, I see rates of $100-150 for a third person. These charges apply even if girls share two double beds and do not ask for extra towels, robes, etc.
Taxes are often added to these additional charges.
Adding insult to injury, these new hotel fees, resort fees, parking fees, extra person charges, etc. are subject to tax. The nightly tax in Honolulu is about 18%.
Airlines are not exempt from excessive fees. Most passengers are becoming accustomed to “basic economy” or ‘light’ fares, which do not include anything. Passengers will have to pay extra for anything else. My clients booked tickets to Africa for safari, where Air France and KLM were the only reasonable options. Parents bought tickets in premium economy, children in regular economy. All tickets cost more than $2,000 per person – and they have to pay extra for seat assignment.
Air France’s website says, “Is there priority between aisle and window seats? Want to sit next to the person you’re traveling with? Choose your preferred seat when booking your flight?”
Uh, “Do you want to sit next to the person you’re traveling with?” For a 20 hour trip? At least it wouldn’t be an insult to our intelligence if they said, “We’re going to charge you because we can.” You can get a free seat assignment within 30 hours of your flight on their website. Air France is warning passengers they may end up in two middle seats on opposite sides of the plane.
I thought DOT said that any mandatory airline charges should be included in the airfare.
Again, if hotels and airlines need to charge a certain rate to make a profit, that’s fair. However, they must disclose their mandatory net pricing upfront. According to DOT, this is the law. However, there are many ways to make fees seem “optional” by providing harder hoops to jump through to claim they are “optional.”
Smart people and travel advisors have no problem with things like discounted specials for “run-of-the-house rooms.” The translation often means that hotels can offer one or two beds to customers. To deal with this, the establishment can place passengers next to the elevator or above the dustbin. The translation of an airline’s “Basic” fare often means that the airline will strictly fly passengers to their destination – everything else, including the ability to change seats, costs extra.
As for travelers, it is time for providers to be honest with their customers.
Also read:
Are a-la-carte amenity costs really hidden resort fees?
Are housekeeping fees part of future hotel pricing?
Janice Huff is a California-based travel agent, travel blogger, and part-time comedy writer. A frequent flyer herself, she has been battling airlines, hotels and other travel companies for more than three decades. In addition to writing for Travelers United, Janice also has a humor blog at Latecoastsportsbabe.com (Caveat, the political and sports humor contained herein does not represent anyone but her own opinions.)
