With the travel season in full swing, well-informed travelers have a hard time finding the best deals amidst the new charges Airlines have invented.

Instead of comparing ticket prices, travelers should calculate the total cost of the flight, including baggage charges, food, drinks, entertainment, and many more fees that Airlines have come up with in an attempt to disguise the true ticket price.

In this article, we reveal additional fees to help you calculate the true cost of your trip.

The following lists are not exhaustive and fees are not guaranteed. All information provided applies only to coach and only to domestic flights (continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii).

This article was last updated July 1, 2010.


Checked Luggage
Comparison Table for Luggage checked with US carriers:

Overweight charges are not included in this list.
Airlines
Checked Luggage (Excess Luggage and Overweight Fee may apply)
Exceptions

Alaska Airlines
$20 (1st-3rd), $50 (4th and up)
Unless ticket purchased before 5/1/10: $15 (1st), $25 (2nd)

American Airlines
$25 (1st), $35 (2nd), $100 (3rd, 4th, 5th), $200 (6th and up)
Unless ticket purchased before 1/31/10.

Continental Airlines
Check-in online: $23 (1st), $32 (2nd)// Check-in at airport: $25 (1st), $35 (2nd)
Unless ticket purchased btw. 10/2/09-1/8/10: Online: $18 (1st), $27 (2nd); Airport: $20 (1st), $30 (2nd)

Delta Air Lines
Check-in online: $23 (1st), $32 (2nd)// Check-in at airport: $25 (1st), $35 (2nd)
N/A

Frontier Airlines
$20 (1st), $30 (2nd), $50 (3rd and up)
Unless ticket purchased before 9/7/09: $15 (1st), $25 (2nd)

Hawaiian Airlines
Check-in online: $23 (1st), $32 (2nd)// Check-in at airport: $25 (1st), $35 (2nd)
Unless ticket purchased before 1/21/10: Online: $15 (1st), $25 (2nd)// Airport: $25 (1st), $30 (2nd)

Horizon Air
Part of Alaska Airlines

JetBlue Airways
1st free (within max. dimensions and weight), $30 (2nd), $75 (3rd and up)
N/A

Northwest Airlines
*Now Delta

Southwest Airlines
1st & 2nd free, $50 (3rd-9th), $100 (10th and up)
N/A

United Airlines
$25 (1st), $35 (2nd)
Unless ticket purchased before 1/14/10: $20 (1st), $30 (2nd)

US Airways
Check-in online: $23 (1st), $32 (2nd)// Check-in at airport: $25 (1st), $35 (2nd)// $100 (3rd and up) only at airport
Unless ticket purchased before 1/18/10: Online: $20 (1st), $30 (2nd)// Airport: $25 (1st), $35 (2nd)// $100 (3rd and up) only at airport

Virgin America
$25 (1st), $25 (2nd-10th)
Unless ticket purchased before 2/11/10: $20 (1st), $20 (2nd-10th)


Most airlines allow you to take a small suitcase and a personal item with you as carry-on luggage (into the cabin). A personal item can be a laptop bag or a backpack. Since airlines started to charge fees for checked luggage, many travelers started taking larger and larger carry-on items. However, keep in mind that most airlines also have size and weight limits for carry-on items. Recently, they have started to enforce those guidelines more strictly.

Food and Drinks


Airline Meal
Comparison Table for Food and Drink charges with US carriers:
Airlines
Food
Drinks

Alaska Airlines
Snacks - $3.50-6, Breakfast and Sandwich - $6, Platters (Antipasto or Fruit & Cheese) -$7
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Alcoholic bev. - $6

American Airlines
Breakfast Snack - $3, Breakfast Cafe Box - $6, Nut Snacks - $3, Boston Market Sandwich or Chicken Caesar Salad - $10
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Wine, Liquor - $7, Beer - $6

Continental Airlines
Complimentary Snacks, Complimentary Meals on flights longer than 3 hours, Plan to charge for meals beginning fall 2010
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Alcoholic bev. - $6

Delta Air Lines
Complimentary Snacks, Breakfast - $3-7, Lunch & Dinner - $6-8, Additional Snacks - $2-5
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Beer - $5// Wine & Liquor - $7

Frontier Airlines
Snacks -$3, Breakfast and Sandwich -$6, Salad -$7
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Bottled Water, Energy Drinks - $3// Alcoholic bev. - $5

Hawaiian Airlines
Complimentary Meals, Premium Meals - $10, Snacks - $5.50-6.50
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Alcoholic bev. - $6.50

Horizon Air
Snack Packs - $6
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Complimentary Wine & Beer// Liquor - $6

JetBlue Airways
Complimentary Snacks, Meals - $6
Non-Alcoholic Bev. - Compl., Alcoholic Bev. $6

Northwest Airlines
*Now Delta

Southwest Airlines
Complimentary Snacks, No Sandwiches/ Meals
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Energy Drink - $3// Alcoholic bev. - $5

United Airlines
Snackboxes - $6-7, Meals: Breakfast - $5, Lunch & Dinner - $9
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Alcoholic bev. - $6

US Airways
Snacks - $3-4, Snack Box - $6, Meals - $7
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Alcoholic bev. - $7

Virgin America
Snacks and meals - $2-10
Complimentary non-alcoholic bev.// Premium non-alcoholic bev. & alcoholic bev. - $2-10


The times where you can indulge in free food and drinks are long gone, but if I have to pay for my meals, I expect something better.

Although you cannot bring liquids through security, you can buy anything at the airport stores. Currently, most airlines still offer complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

You can bring food through security and I would not hesitate to do so.


Entertainment, Headsets, Pillows and all other charges


image by satosphere
Comparison Table for all other charges with US carriers:
Airlines
Headsets/Wi-Fi
Pillow/ Blanket

Alaska Airlines
Inflight Wi-Fi access on select flights, Fees
No info

American Airlines
Headsets - $2, Inflight Wi-Fi access on 767-200, select MD80s, and soon on 737, Fees
$8 pillow and blanket (for you to keep after the flight; pillow is inflatable; includes coupon for Bed, Bath & Beyond)

Continental Airlines
Headsets - $3
No info

Delta Air Lines
Inflight Wi-Fi access on selected planes, Fees
Free blanket

Frontier Airlines
Complimentary headsets or bring your own
No info

Hawaiian Airlines
Headsets - $5, $5 for inflight movies (even if you bring your own headsets), $15 player & 2 rental headsets
No info

Horizon Air
*Part of Alaska Airlines

JetBlue Airways
Complimentary e-mail access on BetaBlue, $ for headsets or bring your own
$7 pillow and blanket (includes coupon for cleanrest.com)

Northwest Airlines
*Now Delta

Southwest Airlines
No Info
No info

United Airlines
Complimentary headsets, Inflight Wi-Fi access, Fees
Only on international flights.

US Airways
Inflight Wi-Fi access, Fees
$7 Pack with pillow, blanket, eye mask, ear plugs

Virgin America
Headsets - $2 or bring your own, Inflight Wi-Fi access, Fees
$12 Pack with pillow, blanket, eye mask, ear plugs


Paying for headsets is not really a big deal breaker for me, since I prefer my own headsets. Since plane hygiene is also not what is used to be, I also prefer to bring my own inflatable pillow.

You can get airline headphone adapters in most electronics stores. Buy them ahead of time. The stores in the airport pay hefty fees to the airport operators. Those fees are reflected in their prices.
Conclusion

I wonder when we will have to pay for the luxury of having an oxygen mask available or a live-vest/ floatation device.

I wish there was a federal regulation that would force airlines to reflect all charges in the ticket price. Until this happens, we are devoted to keep this list up-to-date and we ask you to help us.

If you discover a new charge, please let us know so that we can update this list. Simply email us through the contact form. We will work it into the article.

We created this list to the best of our knowledge, based on personal experience, and reports we have received. We do not guarantee its completeness or correctness, nor do we accept any claims based on this list. We promise to do our best to keep up with the constant changes introduced by the Airlines. If you are aware of any changes, please let us know.