Another Airline Fee Boards …

Low costs airlines are getting more creative with nickle and diming passengers with one airline fee after another. First there was charging for meals, then a second bag, then a fee for carry-ons. But Spirit airlines seems to be offering some true out of the box thinking by charging an extra fee for something required to travel … a boarding pass.

They truly have you coming and going. Beginning Tuesday, June 27, Spirit will charge $5.00 each way on all international and domestic flights traveling on or about November 1. Travelers can avoid the boarding pass fee by checking in online before they arrive at the airport, or by using an airport kiosk for self-checkin. But even then, next summer Spirit will charge $1 to use airport kiosks to get boarding passes.

Spirit isn’t the only airline that has gotten boarding pa$$ fever. Ryan Air in Europe began charging a boarding pass fee earlier in the year on all flights originating in Europe. But Spirit is thought to be the first domestic US carrier to initiate the boarding pass fee.

Now, to their credit, Spirit is claiming to reduce their fares by $5 each way, stating that customers have said they would rather pay less and check in online.

“By lowering the fare for everyone and then charging only those who choose for us to print their boarding pass, we let the customer decide. It’s all about consumer choice,” said Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit.

Yeah, uh huh.

Hat Tip – CNN Travel