Delta Fares

Do you think it is fair for DELTA to charge unexpected fees at the counter while checking in to catch a plane?

While checking in at the airport for a Delta Flight there were so many pissed off travelers because of all the extra fees Delta was charging. One lady changing plane was hit with a $175 fee for changing planes. Another person was hit with a $100 fee because her child was 1 month short of being 15 and the child was flying by herself. It is kind of like be prepared to pay more when you check in at DELTA, Because they like your money.

Public Comments

1. Those two certain instances they should have read the fine print and would have known that those would have caused fees. Usually no matter what on an airline if you change flights they charge you a fee. If you pay attention to the rules you won't get hit with any fees.
2. If someone is being charged fees at the counter, it's because that passenger is making a change AT the counter and that's a chargeable "offense". If people would read ALL the regulations before buying a ticket, they wouldn't be so shocked. For instance, if I'm flying from my home airport to Miami with a connecting flight in Tampa, and then when I get to Tampa, I decide I'd rather fly into Ft. Lauderdale, they will charge me for that change.
3. These are only unexpected, if you don't read the rules first. I thought everyone knew if you bought a restricted ticket (the cheapest ones) they charge you to make a change. I know that some airlines charge an extra fee to watch over children flying by themselves, and I don't even have kids.
4. I have never had to pay for my children to fly by them self. I usually fly Southwest and have flown Delta. What did they do for $100. Feed them I doubt it. A charge may be warranted but $100, it seems as if the do not want children under 15 flying alone or at all on Delta.
5. Delta is no different than any other airline in that regard. While some of the rules for what each individual airline can change, the rules were pretty much always there. What is different now, and the reason that the airlines are more strictly imposing the charging of those fee's is simply cost. The cost of fuel is usually an airlines biggest expense...next to labor, and with the cost of jet fuel topping $100.00 a barrel, the cost is of course, passed onto the consumer. As for the lady that was charged a fee of $175...it unlikely that she was charged that for 'changing planes', but instead, for changing her reservations. If she had a heavily restricted ticket that cost her less than the walk up fare, and then changed her reservation, there is a charge to change that. It was explained to her when she bought the ticket, and it was explained to her when she changed her reservation. If she wanted the flexibility of flying whenever she wanted, she could have bought the more expensive, unrestricted ticket. As for the 15 year old traveling alone...the $100 is a charge to ensure that that child would be escorted to their connecting flights, and to ensure the person on the receiving end is exactly who is supposed to be picking them up. What price would you pay to ensure a 15 year old's safety? It is what the airline charges for extra supervision, and if you don't want to pay for it, then don't put them on an airplane alone. There are too many potential legal issues involved in carrying an unescorted/unaccompanied MINOR. I don't work for Delta, but, keep in mind...this company just exited Bankruptcy...you can't blame them (or any company) for trying to turn a profit...especially in this economic environment.