Airline Fee

I don't understand the charge. Sounds like a new way for the airline to make up the money they are spending on jet fuel.

sure, fine, whatever

That is skyway robbery. I remember when the charge was $25 for one way. Wow how times change. I don't understand why they need $100 - the child gets escorted onto and off the plane - that is it. Nothing more, nothing less. $100?? They are crazy!! Sorry to hear you have to pay.

I am not hearing to many great things about US Air lately. Lots of talk about how they are really struggling, more than any other carrier right now. My family and I flew them just recently to and from San Diego. On the return flight there was not even a service. No announcement, no turbulence - nothing. I was amazed at that. Their announcement after we landed was something like thank you on behalf of your Philadelphia crew - I figured that explained it all. I hear the east coast crews are bad - I would have to agree after our experience.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.

I thought the age was 12 with all the airlines for the "unaccompanied minor fee." I'm surprised that any airline charges for someone of her age. hmm....smells like a way to just get profits.

By the way - don't expect any one to check in with her a lot during the flight (regardless of the length). If she wants a blanket or a pillow, she'd better grab one herself.

What you get for that fee is minimal, at best.

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 7 yr. old daughter and a 5 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

for curiosity sake, i would email US Air customer service department and ask how much the fee is.

I say this because i had questions regarding our flight on Memorial Day weekend and wanted to know if US Air would charge us if we checked our daughters car seat and stroller. They told me no on the phone, but i wanted it in writing. I received an email back that there would be no fee for these items - they are considered courtesy items. Another mom on this site said she was charged $25 to check a car seat.

We ended up buying my daughter a seat and we were not charged for gate checking the stroller. But i was so ready to whip out that email if anyone tried to surprise us with more fees.

It's almost like the airlines are making up the fees as they go along.

just~me

I'm stuck in Denver for an extra couple of days because I ate that bad tomato last week. When I called US Airways to change my ticket, they wanted $450. I booked a 1-way flight for Thursday on Southwest for $220 -- and that's for the "Business Select" fare (early boarding and a "free" cocktail).

About a week and a half ago, when I had to do the same thing, but from Long Beach, US Airways charged me $130 to change a $250 round trip ticket.

My gosh. I can see needing an airline employee to mind a 6 year-old, but a 14 year-old can navigate a shopping mall on her own; the Ontario airport (I was just there) is a breeze. With all the security (cameras, etc.) in airports now, a young teen is safer in an airport terminal than she is riding a bus to school.

I would call the Customer Service number and say, firmly but politely (conjure up The Closer), that your daughter doesn't/didn't need an escort to baggage claim, and that you want that charge taken off your credit card. When the dweeb (I work in call centers) refuses, ask him or her for his/her name and/or employee ID number, and then ask to speak to a supervisor. If the supervisor refuses, ask him or her to provide you with either his/her name or his/her employee ID number. Then, send an email documenting your conversations and ask, once more, for the charges to be taken off. You'll need the record locater number (something like BXWE7Q2) from her itinerary.

There are two groups of people that airline employees pay attention to. The first is the Fat Cat frequent flyers who don't act like jerks. The second is regular folk with an issue who don't act like jerks. They take so much abuse that just a simple "please" or "thank-you" goes a long way. I actually got un-bumped from my flight to Ontario ahead of others, I think, because I just said that I had a customer waiting for me, and I didn't go off on the gate agents (who can't, after all, reconfigure the aircraft to add another dozen seats).

You might not get your $200 back, but I'll bet you get something. Airline execs might think $200 is lunch money, but their employees know that it's 2-3 week's worth of groceries. Even if you have to spend a couple of hours dealing with it (which the airlines are betting you won't), the payback is up to $100 an hour.

But on to the important things. I hope your daughter has a great time with her aunt, and I think it's terrific that you're up for sharing her with your sister. My Mom has always said that it was impossible to have too many people love her kids.

Yes that is correct. Too bad you hadn't researched all airlines prior to purchasing the ticket. We always use Southwest Airlines for my 8-year to fly as an unaccompanied minor with no added fees, just the cost of the plane ticket. Sorry about that!

There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one!

I'm curious, what airlines was it, I'll avoid that one next time I fly even though I don't have a 14 yr. old....it's the principle!