Airlines Add Surcharge for Holiday Travel

Haven’t booked your flight for the holidays yet?  Well, you can expect to pay at least an extra $10 surcharge for tickets on thirteen busy days around the holidays.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways have all added the surcharge for travel on Nov. 29 and 30; Dec. 19, 26, and 27; Jan. 2 and 3; March 14, 20, 21, 28; April 11; and May 28.

Continental Airlines JetBlue and Southwest Airlines have not added the surcharges.

The cost of airfare is down 10 percent from last year.  The average airfare for Thanksgiving was $361 and the average airfare for winter holidays was $440 when tickets were purchased between July 1 and October 1, according to a report from priceline.com.

Despite ticket price costing less since last year, travelers are being hit with a slew of fees for amenities that were once free.  They can now add the holiday surcharge to the growing list that includes checked baggage, curbside check-in, pet travel, ticket re-scheduling and oversized bags, as well as food, soda and juice.

Airlines have historically raised fares during the holiday season rather than raise base fares because its quick and easily targeted on the busiest travel days.