The numbers are out and there’s no doubt about it. Ancillary fees aren’t going away.
Here’s why: Data from the Department of Transportation has shown that in 2014, airlines collected $3.5 billion in checked bag fees.
That’s an increase of over 5 percent from the previous year. That means charging to check luggage, plus additional fees for overweight and oversized bags.
Some airlines outdid others. Hawaiian Airlines made more from baggage fees than from overall earnings—more than $76 million.
The airlines also collected almost $3 billion in change-ticket fees, which is up nearly 6 percent from last year.
It’s not a surprise that airlines have reported overall earnings of $208 billion, which is the highest in 15 years. But net profits have actually gone down from 2013 because of additional expenses incurred over the year.
With fuel prices being so low right now, you can bet they’re celebrating these numbers. But for you, that means those ancillary fees won’t be disappearing any time soon.
For more information about airlines and airports, check out:
- How Much Are Airlines Making From Ancillary Revenue?
- The Most Reliable Airlines and Airports in the World
- What Are the Safest Airlines in the World?
Keep reading for more travel tips.
