Have You Noticed These Once Included Services Becoming "Premium"?
Air travel today is full of surprises, and not usually the pleasant kind. What used to be a standard given, like a hot meal, onboard entertainment, or even customer service, is now an extra hidden fee. If you’ve noticed your travel costs creeping higher and higher, you’re not imagining it. Here are 20 things that used to be free on planes and now cost extra.
1. In-Flight Meals
In-flight meals used to be a given on flights longer than a couple of hours. However, now, depending on the airline, you usually have to pay extra for it, unless you're in business or first class.
2. Snacks
Even on short flights, airlines used to always offer a little snack like pretzels or peanuts. However, now they usually don't give you anything, even on medium-haul flights.
3. Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks used to be complimentary, especially in the "golden age of flying." Now, while certain flights still offer beer and wine, it's rare in economy class.
4. Soft Drinks
While soft drinks are still often offered as a complimentary service, this is no longer a guarantee. Even then, the variety of soft drinks is much less vast than it used to be.
5. Carry-On Bags
Even the carry-on luggage allowance is different from what it used to be. Now, some airlines are only allowing "personal items," which are much smaller.
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6. Pillows & Blankets
For medium and long-haul flights, passengers used to be given pillows and blankets, making the flight more comfortable for sleeping. Nowadays, you're generally expected to bring your own.
7. Seat Selection
Seat selection used to be a normal part of booking flights, but now you're usually charged extra for it. Airlines charge anywhere from $10 to $80 for this "upgrade." Otherwise, you're given a random seat, sometimes far away from your travel partner.
8. Online Check-In
The ability to check in for your flight online ahead of time makes your trip to the airport more convenient and streamlined. However, this service is now being treated as a "premium" upgrade by some lower-cost airlines. They'll charge upwards of $50 for this service.
9. Wi-Fi
Wi-fi used to be free on flights in some cases. However, now it rarely is. Some provide it free for business class or as a loyalty perk, but you probably won't find it in economy.
10. Priority Boarding
Priority boarding used to be free for frequent flyers, business, or first-class passengers, or even on a random basis. However, today, it's treated like a revenue stream, offered as an add-on.
11. Flight Changes
Airline policies around flight changes used to be a lot more lenient, with many offering one free flight change. Now, unless you pay a large extra sum for a flexible ticket, flights are impossible to adjust.
12. Bringing Sports Equipment
Many airlines used to allow sports equipment like golf clubs and skis to be checked in as part of your standard baggage allowance. Now, you're charged generally around $100 extra to bring these things on board.
13. Bringing Pets In Cabin
Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon to bring small pets on board with you free of charge. Now, most carriers charge $75 to $200 each way, even on domestic flights.
14. Onboard Entertainment
Onboard entertainment used to be universally free, with many airlines even providing free headphones. Now, it's often an extra cost, with many low-cost airlines not even offering it at all.
15. Airport Lounges
You used to be able to hang out for free in many airport lounges if you were a frequent flyer, flying business, or first class. Now, it's restricted to those without elite status, or you have to pay an extra $40 to $70 for access.
16. Customer Support
Even customer support is a "premium" service nowadays. Low-cost airlines charge $15 to $25 per call, just to talk to a human, or you have to buy priority service packages.
17. Headphones
Many onboard entertainment systems, even if they're free, only work with aux inputs, which many of us no longer have. They, of course, capitalize on this by charging extra for this old style of headphone.
18. Extra Legroom Seats
In the past, many airlines offered emergency exit row seats with extra legroom for free, usually on a first-come, first-served basis. Now, if you're a tall person, good luck. You'll likely be charged just to have a little extra legroom.
19. Printing A Boarding Pass
While some low-cost airlines charge extra for online check-in, others charge extra for airport check-in. How confusing is that? Airlines like Ryanair charge a fee of over $50 per passenger for printing your boarding pass at the airport.
20. Same-Day Standby
You used to be able to stay on standby for an earlier flight on the same day without a fee. Now, same-day standby is often only offered to elite frequent flyers or premium passengers.
