Boston Globe
In 2024, airlines collected a record $148 billion in fees. Commonly referred to as ancillary fees, these revenue-generating extra charges come from fees for seat selection, priority boarding, food and drink, luggage, or dedicated overhead space, and even money airlines make from selling frequent flyer miles. The previous record for ancillary fees was $109.5 billion in 2019.
“You get what you pay for, is an ancient pearl of wisdom for both consumers and airline managers,” said report author Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorksCompany. “The a la carte choices presented by the ancillary revenue movement have encouraged travelers to upgrade to more comfort and convenience.”