Water Isn't Free and More Fees

...at least it isn't on lots of US Airways routes. The airline has decided to charge for non alcoholic drinks including coffee and bottled water. So after you've paid for checking in luggage, you can buy your coffee now too!

There have been so many added fees and charges in 2008 that really, it should be called something along the lines of 2008 in air travel : a tale of fuel, fees, and getting fleeced. Granted, fuel prices have been ridiculously high, but the fact remains that there has been an unbelievable amount of nickel and diming going on.

Another case in point is the introduction of a $7 pillow/blanket combo on JetBlue. Yes, it is reusable, and you get a coupon thrown in for good measure, but it just seems part of this fee-after-fee trend that doesn't appear to stop anytime soon.

The continually evolving list of fees led me to start an entire folder in the Air Travel Forum dedicated to Fees, Surcharges and Taxes. I've been working in the air travel industry for nearly 15 years now, and have never seen such rapid fee and surcharge increases in such a short amount of time as has been witnessed in 2008.