Passengers, Airline Fees | featured news

Southwest Airlines, known for open seating and boarding passengers in bunches, announced this week that fliers can buy a priority spot in boarding group "A" for $40 per flight. Southwest will put unsold slots in the A1-15 boarding group up for sale, when available, at the gate beginning 45 minutes before departure. Passengers will then be able to use a credit card to buy an early boarding spot. The airline tested the program in San Diego in December and received positive feedback.

Southwest Airlines customers will soon pay a fee for not canceling a ticket before their flight. The airline outlined the new policy Friday at an investors' conference in New York. Right now, Southwest lets passengers who don't use their ticket apply the price toward a new ticket. Southwest says it can reduce no-shows and generate more revenue by adding the cancellation fee on restricted tickets.

Airlines are charging premiums for window and aisle seats, making it harder for groups to fly together, say passenger advocates.

Airlines are nickel-and-diming passengers, and now a coalition of three travel advocacy groups is fighting back.

Passengers are increasingly running afoul of funny fares.  The prices often can’t be adequately explained, so their only choice is to take their business elsewhere.

British Airways says it will allow passengers to choose seats up to 355 days before flying -- for a fee.