iStock International
Save on airline fees and enjoy your next flight with our expert advice
Delays. Security lines. Increasing airfares. Air travelers’ growing list of gripes has morphed into a recognizable chorus that now also includes mulling over what once-free amenities must actually be paid for after arriving at the airport. It’s enough to make you want to give up on flying the unfriendly skies altogether! But there are ways to cap the cost of your flight at its ticket price with a little careful planning: Read on for our expert tips on avoiding the fees of the à la carte menu in the sky – airlines’ newest attempt to generate revenue in the face of rising jet fuel prices. Dodge attempts to be nickel-and-dimed on bottled water (yes, water!), pillows, headsets, and even an aisle seat by coming prepared. While the sky seems to be the limit on what they’ll charge for next, the restrooms and airsickness bags remain free . . . for now. Download our New Airline Fees chart for a quick-and-easy guide to the current luggage and in-flight fees being levied by airlines.
see next page$154+: Stay 7 nights at a Colorado resort this holiday Rams Horn Village Resort
$89+: Stowe, VT hotel w/indoor pool & free brkfst nr skiing Sun And Ski Inn And Suites
$89+: Tucson hotel w/pool, free brkfst & shuttle to airport Hotels.com
$60+: Budget Savannah-area hote w/restaurant near airport Savannah Inn
$106+: Mediterranean-style Florida resort w/golf, spa & more Hotels.com
$259+: Palm Beach resort with spa near shopping The Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club
$69+: Luxury Atlantic City hotel on boardwalk w/casino Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino
$109+: Chicago-area resort w/bowling alley, spa, pool & more Eaglewood Resort and Spa
$84+: Orlando hotel w/free shuttle to Disney, Seaworld & more Wyndham Orlando Resort
$209+: Manhattan hotel near Rockefeller Center & more Amsterdam Court Hotel
$219+: NYC hotel nr theater district & Times Square Wellington Hotel
$206+: Pasadena hotel w/tennis & free shuttle nr attractions Hotels.com
$36+: Las Vegas hotel on Strip w/pools, spa, casino & more Hotels.com
$69+: Miami hotel nr airport, golf courses & more Hotels.com
$135+: Posh Palm Springs resort w/spa, restaurant & bars Hotels.com
$47/nt+: Great deals on 3-star hotels in beautiful Atlanta Hotwire.com
$62/nt+: 3-star hotels on sale in Los Angeles city center Hotwire.com
$209+: Oceanfront Maui resort & spa w/tennis & free brkfst Hotels.com
$119+: Weekends at Coastal California hotel near beach Marriott Hotels
$70+: Vegas hotel & casino on Strip w/five pools & more MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
$1035+: Oahu, Kauai & Maui 9-nt combo w/air & hotels BeachDestinations.com
$799+: Oahu & Maui 6-nt trip w/airfare & hotels BeachDestinations.com
$1049+: 9-nt romantic Maui, Oahu & Kauai trip w/flights BeachDestinations.com
$789+: Oahu & Kauai 6-nt getaway w/flights & lodging BeachDestinations.com
$849+: 6-nt Oahu & Maui combo w/airfare & hotels BeachDestinations.com
$568+: Fly to Madrid, Barcelona & Rome 6-nt w/air & hotels EuropeanDestinations.com
$503+: 4-nts in all-incl. majestic Punta Cana resort w/air BeachDestinations.com
$686+: 4-nt stay in spectacular Riu Palace in Negril w/air BeachDestinations.com
$616+: 4-nt all-incl. stay in Dominican Republic w/air BeachDestinations.com
$430+: Iberostar Tucan Riviera Maya all-inc 4-nt stay w/air BeachDestinations.com
$420+: 4-nt beautiful Punta Cana all-incl. stay w/air BeachDestinations.com
$1719+: 5-nt Rio Carnival trip w/air & parade ticket LatinDestinations.com
$789+: Granada, Ometepe & Managua 6-nt trip w/airfare LatinDestinations.com
$1739+: 8-nt Peru trip to Lima, Cuzco & Machu Picchu w/air LatinDestinations.com
$889+: 8-nt Honduras trip to La Ceiba & Roatan w/airfare LatinDestinations.com
$1095+: 8-nt stay in Gamboa Resort & Playa Bonita in Panama LatinDestinations.com
$829+: 6-nt trip to Panama City & Contadora Island w/air LatinDestinations.com
$705+: Fly to Managua, Granada & Corn Islands for 7-nt w/air LatinDestinations.com
$789+: 6-nt trip to San Pedro & Tela Beach in Honduras LatinDestinations.com
$1429+: 6-nt Oahu & Lanai beach trip w/airfare & hotels BeachDestinations.com
$549+: Reduced price 7-nt Alaska cruise to Juneau & Skagway Royal Caribbean
$599+: Alaska & Sawyer Glacier 7-nt Norwegian cruise w/bonus CruisesOnly
$349+: 7-nt Mexican Riviera cruise w/onboard meals from LA CruisesOnly
$379+: 7-nt Mexico cruise on Mariner of the Seas w/bonus CruisesOnly
$279+: 5-nt exotic cruise to Western Caribbean ports from FL Royal Caribbean
$125+: Key West, Cococay & Nassau 4-nt cruise from Miami Royal Caribbean
$499+: 8-nt romantic St Lucia & St Kitts Caribbean cruise Carnival Cruise Lines
$439+: 7-nt Bahamas & Florida cruise on Carnival w/bonus Carnival Cruise Lines
$699+: Sail to Hawaii for 7 nts w/up to $800 in savings Cruise.Com
$839+: 7-nt London to NY cruise w/up to $300 ship credit American Express Travel
$499+: 7-nt Bahamas cruise from NYC w/up to $800 savings Cruise.Com
$574+: 15-nt Savona to Ft Lauderdale transatlantic sailing Cruise.Com
$399+: 7-nt Alaska cruise from LA w/up to $800 in savings Cruise.Com
$504+: 7-nt Alaska cruise to Juneau, Ketchikan & Skagway Cruise.Com
$5301+: 7-nt Alaska cruise w/unlimited shore activities Cruise.Com
$499+: 7-nt Alaska family-friendly voyage w/prepaid tips Cruise.Com
$3959+: 7-nt Alaska cruise w/free unlimited shore excursions Cruise.Com
$1269+: 10-nt Radiance of the Seas Alaska tour includes tips Cruise.Com
$1234+: 10-nt Alaska Princess Cruise w/$325 onboard savings Cruise.Com
$479+: 7-nt Alaska cruise w/free lunch & up to $150 credit Cruise.Com
$152+: Cheap round-trip domestic winter fares Expedia
Holiday Fare Sales & More from $98 Editors' Review
$49+: Last-minute flights to all major US cities (one-way) Frontier Airlines
$150+: Cheap fares to Niagara Falls (round-trip) Major Airlines
$169+: Discount fall fares to NYC (round-trip) Expedia
$139+: Round-trip fares to Orlando from NE cities Major Airlines
$203+: Low fares to top Texas cities (round-trip) Major Airlines
$216+: Round-trip fares to Columbus via Chicago & more Major Airlines
$223+: Round-trip Memphis fares via top cities Major Airlines
$198+: Fly to Charlotte via NY & more (round-trip) Major Airlines
$199+: Cheap flights to Portland, OR(round-trip) Major Airlines
$263+: Fall flights to Myrtle Beach (round-trip) Expedia
$203+: Round-trip San Antonio fares via Baltimore Major Airlines
$193+: Fly round-trip to Jacksonville via NE cities Major Airlines
$101+: Discount flights to Baltimore (round-trip) Major Airlines
$186+: Low round-trip flights to Salt Lake City Major Airlines
$323+: Flights to historic Savannah (round-trip) Expedia
$147+: Round-trip flights to Florida beach cities Major Airlines
$151+: Fall flights to Los Angeles (round-trip) Major Airlines
$209+: Round-trip Daytona Beach fare via Baltimore Major Airlines
$15.95+: Low rates on rental cars in major cities across the US Hotwire
$10/day+: Airport pickup & dropoff car rental deals CarRentals.com
Under $15: Cheap car rentals in major cities CarRentals.com
Under $15: Great deals on all-sized car rentals CarRentals.com
$10/day+: Cheap car rentals from major US airports CarRentals.com
