How to Avoid Hidden Airline Fees

The Most Common Airline Fees in 2025

To beat the system, you must first understand its components. Airlines unbundle their fares to advertise the lowest possible price, making their real money on the add-ons. These “ancillary fees” are not random; they are predictable and, therefore, avoidable.

Checked & Carry-On Baggage Fees

This is the largest and most common fee category. A first checked bag on a domestic flight now costs between $35 and $40 each way on most major carriers. The second bag will cost even more, and overweight/oversized fees can add another $100-$200 on top of that.

Even carry-on bags are no longer universally free. Basic Economy fares on airlines like United and JetBlue often exclude a full-sized carry-on, permitting only a small personal item that fits under the seat. If you show up at the gate with a larger bag, you’ll pay a premium to have it checked.

Seat Selection Fees

Airlines have monetized the simple act of choosing where you sit. Want an aisle or window? That’s a fee. Need extra legroom? That’s a bigger fee. Traveling with family and want to sit together? You may have to pay for each seat assignment. While some airlines now guarantee free seating for children next to a parent, this isn’t universal.

Skipping seat selection is always an option; the airline will assign you a seat for free at check-in or at the gate. But this almost guarantees you a middle seat in the back.

Flight Change & Cancellation Fees

While most major airlines eliminated change fees on standard economy tickets post-pandemic, this flexibility does not apply to Basic Economy fares. If your plans change on a Basic Economy ticket, you typically lose the entire value of the flight. This is a critical trade-off for the lower upfront price. Budget carriers are notorious for high fees for any changes.

Booking, Printing, and In-Flight Charges

This category includes a variety of smaller, but equally irritating, charges designed to penalize inefficiency:

• Booking Fees: Some airlines charge extra to book a flight over the phone or at an airport ticket counter instead of online.
• Airport Check-In/Printing Fees: Ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit and Ryanair are famous for charging fees to print a boarding pass at the airport. This is a pure penalty for not using their app or website.
• In-Flight Refreshments: Outside of long-haul international flights, complimentary meals are a thing of the past. Expect to pay for everything from snacks and alcoholic beverages to, on some budget carriers, even water.
• Priority Boarding: For a fee, you can board earlier to secure overhead bin space. This “solution” exists because of a problem the airlines created: insufficient bin space for everyone’s carry-on.

The Playbook: How to Systematically Avoid Hidden Airline Fees

Knowing the fees is half the battle. Executing the right strategy is how you win. Here is a step-by-step approach to minimizing or eliminating every major fee.

Strategy 1: Neutralize Baggage Fees

Paying to transport your clothes is one of the most inefficient travel expenses. Here’s how to get that cost to zero.

• Pack Light, Carry-On Only: The most direct method. Adhere strictly to your airline’s carry-on dimensions and weight limits. A personal item (like a backpack) that fits under the seat is also free on nearly all airlines and can hold more than you think.
• Leverage Co-branded Credit Cards: This is the ultimate tool. Cards like the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express or the United Explorer Card offer a free first checked bag for the cardholder and at least one companion on the same reservation. The annual fee is often less than the cost of checking bags on two round-trip flights.
• Utilize Elite Status: If you’re loyal to one airline or alliance, even low-level elite status often comes with a free checked bag. It’s a key perk that rewards loyalty.
• Gate-Check Gamble: I bring my carry-on roller bag to the gate, and when the agent asks for volunteers to check bags for free to save cabin space, I’m first in line. Often this is even announced via e-mail upfront. I got an e-mail from Lufthansa quite often. This is a gamble, but on crowded flights, airlines often need to check bags at the gate for free. It saves you the fee but you’ll have to wait at baggage claim.

Strategy 2: Sidestep Seat Selection Fees

You should never pay just to have a place to sit. Paying for a better seat is a choice, but avoiding the basic fee is a strategy.

• Just Skip It: During booking, look for the small link to “skip seat selection.” The airline is legally obligated to give you a seat. You will be assigned one from the remaining inventory during check-in.
• Check-In Exactly 24 Hours Before: The moment check-in opens (usually 24 hours pre-flight), log in. This is when the airline releases many unassigned seats, and you have the best chance of grabbing a decent window or aisle seat for free.
• Know Family Seating Policies: The U.S. Department of Transportation has pressured airlines to ensure children under 13 are seated next to an accompanying adult for free. Check your airline’s specific policy, as this is becoming a more common guarantee. Read the DOT’s guidance here.

Strategy 3: Mitigate Other Ancillary Charges

These smaller fees are the easiest to avoid with simple process discipline.

• Always Book & Check In Online: Never use the phone or airport counter unless absolutely necessary. Use the airline’s website or app to book, check in, and get your mobile boarding pass.
• Avoid Basic Economy (Unless You’re Certain): If there is any chance your plans will change, the savings from a Basic Economy ticket are not worth the risk. The lack of flexibility is the primary cost. For more on maximizing value, see our guide on booking award travel for beginners.
• Bring Your Own Provisions: Pack your own snacks and bring an empty, reusable water bottle to fill up past security. The markup on in-flight food and drinks is astronomical.

Frequently Asked Questions About Airline Fees