Can’t pay airline fees? Go to jail
If you can’t pay airline fees, there can be drastic penalties. You might even have to stay overnight. Or for eight nights, as one poor traveler did in a widely publicized incident.
The victim: Teri Weissinger.
She says she only wanted a “fresh start” when spending her last dollars on an airline ticket to take her from San Francisco to Idaho, where she was planning to start a new life, news accounts say.
“Unfortunately, Weissinger didn't account for the added expense of baggage fees and when she couldn't pay the $60 US Airways required to transport her two checked bags, it set off a chain of events that led to her being trapped in the airport for eight days,” says Smarter Travel.
ABC reports that she spent the time wandering the airport. She admits to being depressed at being trapped, ala the movie “The Terminal,” a 2004 film starring Tom Hanks, where an immigrant finds himself stranded at JFK airport
She was finally sprung from transit-hub purgatory by the "Airport Church of Christ," whose parishioners paid her baggage and rebooking fees and allowed her to continue on her way to Idaho.
“I was relieved because I hadn’t had a shower in eight days,” she told MailOnline. “It was exhausting. I didn’t have much money and I was buying packets of trail mix. It was like going on a camping trip without any camping equipment.”
A US Airways spokesman said:
“We have apologized to Ms Weissinger for her experience, but unfortunately are unable to offer a refund. When you purchase a non-refundable ticket, you accept the terms and conditions. If a passenger cannot travel with their bags, they need to make other arrangements.”
There are many objections to the ever-escalating fees so Bankrate came up with some of “most outrageous.” Here’s a half dozen and how to avoid them.
- Booking by phone. To avoid, obviously, go online.
- Spirit Airlines is among those who charge fees to print boarding passes. Do it at home.
- Luggage fees are everywhere. The exceptions include most elite members of frequent traveler clubs. Join or leave the stuff at home.
- Seat selection fees. Costs can be upwards of $6. Take your chances.
- Priority boarding charges. Costs can be up to $39 each way. “If you don't pay this extra charge, you'll have to hope you can grab a seat with sufficient space after the airline loads everyone else,” says Bankrate.
- A pillow. US Airways charges $7 for a “Power-Nap Sack.” Figure out a way to take a nap without one.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025