Hidden fees of online travel companies raising the ire of travelers

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A recent BBC Watchdog report indicates that many online travel companies are automatically adding travel insurance to a traveler’s bill (in some cases, without the traveler noticing). Just as we’ve all gotten used to paying for many things that used to be travel perks: bags were free, sodas were free, pillows and blankets were gratis, travelers now have to be careful about what fees are automatically added to their online purchases.

Online travel companies like Expedia and Orbitz have added a pre-selected checkbox to the ticket purchase process automatically adding trip insurance to a traveler’s purchase price. If you don’t notice the checkbox and unselect it, you could have purchased travel insurance and never even know it. More than one person has noted that this travel insurance purchase – however handy – didn’t work for them when it came time to make a claim and we don’t recommend this as the best method for purchasing travel insurance.

See the Airline Fees Guide 2011 for the most recent fee tables for:

• baggage fees
• reservation fees
• in-flight fees

Among other hidden fees that travelers must be aware of are fees for airline seat selection, booking by phone, and even changes to frequent flier privileges or wind up paying more.