Travel Tips
Travel Tip: How Much are Airlines Making from Added Fees?
According to The CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany, last year airlines collected $40.5 billion in ancillary revenue—ticket change fees, penalties, and upgraded seat fees.
Which airline earned the most in added fees? United, at $6.2 billion.
Who made the most per passenger in ancillary revenue?
Not surprisingly, Spirit Airlines raked in nearly $52 per passenger, per flight.
These fees add 43 percent of additional revenue to some airline’s bottom lines.
But you know what that means—those fees will remain, but revenue from those fees (if airlines have their way) will continue to grow
Keep reading to see how much each airline earned in 2015:
Alaska Air Group
Ancillary Revenue: $1,092,000,000
As a % of Revenue: 19.5%
Dollars per Passenger: $34.25
Total Revenue: $5,598,000,000
Passengers: 31,883,000
Allegiant Air
Ancillary Revenue: $474,494,000
As a % of Revenue: 37.6%
Dollars per Passenger: $49.94
Total Revenue: $1,262,188,000
Passengers: 9,500,611
American Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $4,718,000,000
As a % of Revenue: 11.5%
Dollars per Passenger: $23.44
Total Revenue: $40,990,000,000
Passengers: 201,249,000
Delta Air Lines
Ancillary Revenue: $3,775,102,000
As a % of Revenue: 9.3%
Dollars per Passenger: $21.04
Total Revenue: $40,704,000,000
Passengers: 179,382,874
Frontier Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $288,000,000
As a % of Revenue: 18.0%
Dollars per Passenger: $23.55
Total Revenue: $1,604,000,000
Passengers: 12,231,000
Hawaiian Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $213,470,150
As a % of Revenue: 9.2%
Dollars per Passenger: $20.02
Total Revenue: $2,317,467,000
Passengers: 10,665,000
JetBlue
Ancillary Revenue: $812,700,000
As a % of Revenue: 12.7%
Dollars per Passenger: $23.15
Total Revenue: $6,416,000,000
Passengers: 35,101,000
Southwest Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $2,118,600,000
As a % of Revenue: 10.7%
Dollars per Passenger: $14.65
Total Revenue: $19,820,000,000
Passengers: 144,574,882
Spirit Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $928,369,000
As a % of Revenue: 43.4%
Dollars per Passenger: $51.80
Total Revenue: $2,141,463,000
Passengers: 17,921,000
Sun Country Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $44,154,000
As a % of Revenue: 8.4%
Dollars per Passenger: $23.85
Total Revenue: $526,000,000
Passengers: 1,851,000
United Airlines
Ancillary Revenue: $6,199,000,000
As a % of Revenue: 16.4%
Dollars per Passenger: $44.16
Total Revenue: $37,864,000,000
Passengers: 140,369,000
Virgin America
Ancillary Revenue: $166,724,656
As a % of Revenue: 10.9%
Dollars per Passenger: $23.70
Total Revenue: $1,529,584,000
Passengers: 7,036,000
For more information about airlines and airports, check out:
- How Much Airlines Charge for Checked & Carry-On Luggage
- What A New Law Will Change About Air Travel
- Is Base Airfare a Better Deal?
Keep reading for more travel tips.