More ways 4 the airline industry 2 rip off travelers:

(CNN) -- It may seem like airlines have thought of every possible way to squeeze more money out of air travelers, charging extra for everything from early boarding to checking bags.

But hold on to your wallet: There's probably room for more fees. Might you eventually pay for holding your baby on your lap during a flight? Or talking to an airline employee during check in?

The trend of a la carte pricing -- charging rock bottom prices for base fares, then adding fees for anything extra -- helped domestic airlines deliver the biggest profits in a decade last year.

The industry collected $2.1 billion in fees during the third quarter of 2010 alone, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That includes more than $900 million in baggage fees and almost $600 million in reservation change fees.

"I think (airlines) are addicted to the fees," said George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. "They're always thinking about new fees because that's how they make money."

No wonder carriers may be tempted to come up with even more extra charges for fliers.

What exactly might they be? Hobica recently put together a list of possibilities for 2011 and it's not pretty.

But be aware that he based some of his guesses on fees already being charged in Europe, especially by low fare champ Ryanair, which may not materialize any time soon in the United States.

"Ryanair wants to charge to use the restroom," said Tom Parsons, CEO of BestFares.com, referring to the infamous idea floated by the carrier in recent years. "I don't think that's going to happen either."

With that in mind, here are some of Hobica's predictions:

Infant fees

In-person check in fee

Credit card fee

Checked bag fees by weight or distance

Carry-on bag fee

http://www.cnn.com/2011/T...tml?hpt=T2

Carry-on luggage works for me. I bypass those $20.00 luggage fees

i thought feeling us up or taking nude photos of us was enough...

I recently bought some round trip tickets for my parents - the total for 2 tickets was $254. Awesome seat sale eh? Except the fees and taxes added another $226.

dang and i guess you could forget about them 1st class flights then

luv4u said:

Carry-on luggage works for me. I bypass those $20.00 luggage fees

Looks like they might start charging carry-on fees. That's ridiculous.

Why shouldn't someone who bring an extra person (ie, a baby) onto a plane pay for said person's flight?

When I go to visit my parents in Arizona next month, the ticket will cost $270 - including all the taxes. It used to cost me $500 to fly from Madison to Tucson. Even if I decide to check a bag, I'm still making out pretty damn well.

Genesia said:

Why shouldn't someone who bring an extra person (ie, a baby) onto a plane pay for said person's flight?

When I go to visit my parents in Arizona next month, the ticket will cost $270 - including all the taxes. It used to cost me $500 to fly from Madison to Tucson. Even if I decide to check a bag, I'm still making out pretty damn well.

you lucked out; some destinations just don't have good rates like that..

If I want to visit my mom and go thru the airport in her small city - only 20 minutes from her house - it would cost me anywhere from 3 to 10 times as much as flying into another airport 2 or 3 hrs away

~ which means any flights for a child over 2 yrs old would also be insane ($350 - $1,000 or more, just for coach!)..

if the baby is small/young enough to hold in your lap (esp if it can't even sit up), why pay extra?

it's bad enough we have to pay an adult fare for a 2 yr old.. they could at least have somewhat lower rates for those aged 2-12; they don't weigh as much as an adult.. well, most of 'em (I think.. lol) -- isn't fare tied into fuel (which is tied into weight of the plane)?

[Edited 1/7/11 10:50am]

Genesia said:

Why shouldn't someone who bring an extra person (ie, a baby) onto a plane pay for said person's flight?

When I go to visit my parents in Arizona next month, the ticket will cost $270 - including all the taxes. It used to cost me $500 to fly from Madison to Tucson. Even if I decide to check a bag, I'm still making out pretty damn well.

I once had to pay $150 to bring a dwarf hamster in a tiny plastic carrier. The carrier was no more than 10 inches by 5 inches.

JustErin said:

Genesia said:

Why shouldn't someone who bring an extra person (ie, a baby) onto a plane pay for said person's flight?

When I go to visit my parents in Arizona next month, the ticket will cost $270 - including all the taxes. It used to cost me $500 to fly from Madison to Tucson. Even if I decide to check a bag, I'm still making out pretty damn well.

I once had to pay $150 to bring a dwarf hamster in a tiny plastic carrier. The carrier was no more than 10 inches by 5 inches.

And the chances of a hamster kicking the back of my seat for three hours are virtually nil.

JustErin said:

Genesia said:

Why shouldn't someone who bring an extra person (ie, a baby) onto a plane pay for said person's flight?

When I go to visit my parents in Arizona next month, the ticket will cost $270 - including all the taxes. It used to cost me $500 to fly from Madison to Tucson. Even if I decide to check a bag, I'm still making out pretty damn well.

I once had to pay $150 to bring a dwarf hamster in a tiny plastic carrier. The carrier was no more than 10 inches by 5 inches.

if I fly with my 18-lb dog in-cabin... $150-200 for round-trip, dependng on airline -- and she counts towards my carry-on

PositivityNYC said:

JustErin said:

I once had to pay $150 to bring a dwarf hamster in a tiny plastic carrier. The carrier was no more than 10 inches by 5 inches.

if I fly with my 18-lb dog in-cabin... $150-200 for round-trip, dependng on airline -- and she counts towards my carry-on

Dude, $150 for this - one way. And it was my only allowable carry on.

Column By RICK SEANEY
FareCompare.com CEO

I'll be brutally honest: if you get on a plane this year, chances are excellent you will pay more than you did in 2010.

If you've filled your tank lately, you know what's going on: the cost of gas has zoomed, and that's true for jet fuel too. You don't have to tell the airlines; they've already launched two airfare hikes in the last month alone, and both United and Continental have slapped on new $20 roundtrip "peak travel day" surcharges for all future travel dates.

We'll see more of this kind of thing in the future. So what's the traveling public supposed to do?

Be a smart airfare shopper. Or not. Here are five ways to sabotage your chances of getting cheap flights this year; take a look -- and learn from it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Tra...d=12549312 (3 pages)

JustErin said:

PositivityNYC said:

if I fly with my 18-lb dog in-cabin... $150-200 for round-trip, dependng on airline -- and she counts towards my carry-on

Dude, $150 for this - one way. And it was my only allowable carry on.

damn......

JustErin said:

JustErin said:

That's why I fly Southwest

IAintTheOne said:

That's why I fly Southwest

Same here.

PositivityNYC said:

Five Ways to Find Cheap Flights in 2011

Don't Let Silly Mistakes Sabotage Your Ability to Save Money on Airfare

Column By RICK SEANEY
FareCompare.com CEO

I'll be brutally honest: if you get on a plane this year, chances are excellent you will pay more than you did in 2010.

If you've filled your tank lately, you know what's going on: the cost of gas has zoomed, and that's true for jet fuel too. You don't have to tell the airlines; they've already launched two airfare hikes in the last month alone, and both United and Continental have slapped on new $20 roundtrip "peak travel day" surcharges for all future travel dates.

We'll see more of this kind of thing in the future. So what's the traveling public supposed to do?

Be a smart airfare shopper. Or not. Here are five ways to sabotage your chances of getting cheap flights this year; take a look -- and learn from it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Tra...d=12549312 (3 pages)

United Airlines merged with Continental. It's one biggie airline now

http://money.cnn.com/2010.../index.htm