Free Yourself from Fees 

If you’re a Saving Thousands! with Robert Palmer  fan, you know I’m firmly against fees. The main thing that separates us from other mortgage companies is that we charge no fees.

I wish that was the case with many other businesses that seem like they’re out to find every way possible to charge you a fee. I want to make you aware of those fees so you can avoid them. Complain if you face an unfair fee and tell them you’re taking your dollars elsewhere. Business will listen when it starts costing them money (just ask Netflix or Bank of America).

There are some new regulations going into effect this month that protect you from hidden airline fees. New rules that go into effect on January 26 require airlines to include the fees when they advertise their fares.

You know the drill – you book what you think is an $89 flight because it’s the cheapest one but then you find out in reality it’s more like $129 with all the fees.

Now the DOT is requiring the airlines to:

•Make sure that advertised fares include all government taxes and other fees that now are hidden behind asterisks or stuck in footnotes, but which can add 30% to 50% to a ticket price.

•Include any fees for checking bags when you book and pay for a ticket online.

•Give customers 24 hours to change their reservations without having to pay rebooking fees. This would save passengers money in case they make a mistake.

Southwest, Allegiant and Spirit airlines are fighting the new rules in court. Spirit Airlines may be the king of the fees; they charge $25 - $40 for a carry-on bag that goes in the overhead bin. That netted them about $50 million alone in 2011. They also charge $5 for an agent to print you a boarding pass, and booking online will cost you anywhere from $18 - $34 for a domestic ticket.

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You can also catch the show now on TV. Saving Thousands! airs every Saturday at 10 a.m. on WRDQ – TV 27.

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