Many travelers, frustrated with the growing number of fees in the travel industry, are resorting to creative strategies to avoid extra charges.
Jodi Blodgett, for example, has stopped flying altogether, opting to drive to avoid luggage and seat selection fees.
Others, like Daniel Rivera, pack minimally to avoid luggage charges, while Kevin Mercier endures middle seats to avoid paying for seat selection.
Hotel guests are skipping resorts with mandatory fees, choosing alternative accommodations instead.
Some travelers even lie about their children’s ages or use corporate booking codes to avoid charges.
This behavior reflects widespread dissatisfaction with fees that often appear after initial bookings, leading to a complex and misleading process.
Despite these avoidance tactics, the travel industry continues to prioritize ancillary revenue over customer satisfaction, with little competition to push back against the rising costs.
For many, the fees have become a silent protest against an industry focused more on profit than on providing a quality travel experience.
