Bait and Switch?! PART TWO

Now that I've declared that there isn't any bait-and-switch going on in the mysterious world of airline ticketing, I would like to also come out on the record and declare that "Yes, Virginia, there IS bait and switch."

Confusing much? Yes.

Everything that I stated previously remains true-- prices do change by the second and there's no reason to assume the worst when you get to the critical credit-card-input moment and receive that terrible "THE FLIGHTS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BOOK ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE" message.

Stuff happens. Shitty stuff. It's not always part of an evil plot. But, um, sometimes it is.

Savvy travelers need to know that many major online travel vendors actively use bait-and-switch techniques in their sales.

(*cough*Expedia*cough*Orbitz*cough*Travelocity*cough*Priceline*cough*)

How? Most often by not disclosing fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges in their quotations. It happens like this: You make it all the way through the booking process, you're ready to pay for the tickets, you've called your friend in Paris to tell them about the "OMG CHEAP TICKET!," when the total suddenly flashes before your eyes-- WTF?! How did the price just DOUBLE?!

See, the airlines are allowed to charge taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges. Consumers generally expect anything called "taxes" to cost between 6-12% of the base fare. In the wacky world of plane tickets, it is not uncommon for the "taxes" to cost more than the ticket itself. The major culprit is the infamous fuel surcharge.

When you see a base fare advertising Chicago to Athens in June for $700.00, what that base fare isn't telling you is that only seven seats at that price are available at that price and that that price doesn't include $200.00 in taxes and another $500.00 in fuel surcharges. That super cheap $700 ticket? Ya, it's going to cost you $1,400.00.

A good travel agent or website quotes you prices that are inclusive of all taxes and fees-- no surprises. Call it bait-and-switch, call it unfair pricing, call it straight up lying... Whatever it is, it's unfair and it sucks. Do yourself a favor and either book directly through the airlines or find yourself a good travel agent that you trust. You'll appreciate it in the long run.