The airlines’ imagination to make you pay (much) more than the price of the ticket is limitless. Of course, there are payment options for express boarding, seat choice, additional luggage, meal trays, etc., “associated revenue” that now represents almost 15% of the operators’ total turnover, or $118 billion in 2023. But companies go further with payment options that border on absurdity at best or abuse at worst. The AirAdvisor platform (support service for injured passengers) has identified some of them.
Before you can board, if you have the crazy idea of booking by phone, some companies like WestJet charge you up to 33 euros in additional expenses. “In the age of automation, talking to a human now comes with a price,” the website teases. And if unfortunately there is an error in your name printed on the ticket, it could cost you dearly. At Ryanair, the bill amounts to 160 euros for a correction made by an agent.
“Basic elements transformed into paid options”
Old schoolers who want to print their boarding pass should be careful. On Ryanair, which is going completely digital, this possibility can cost up to 55 euros at the counter. Several companies (such as Eurowings and Lufthansa) have had the good idea to imagine an option to ensure that the dreaded middle seat next to yours will be empty. The average price observed is 10 to 60 euros per trip (depending on the company, the route and demand).
Once on board, costs continue to fall. United Airlines now charges for carry-on bags in the cabin, not for luggage placed on top of the seat, but for a simple carry-on bag. Painful amount: 23 euros per trip. Remember that in Europe, in most cases, you can board for free with a small bag to store under the front seat. But carrying luggage is an unexpected gain: according to calculations by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, This payment option constitutes a real jackpot, estimated last year at 10 billion euros (3.5 billion for Ryanair alone). And specify that more than half of European passengers subscribe to additional options when purchasing a ticket.
For its part, WestJet has eliminated reclining seats from economy class. To be able to recline, even slightly, you now have to upgrade to the Extended Comfort or Premium class, which costs between 20 and 70 euros.
Source: BFM TV
