Airlines: Those Fees and Fuel Surcharges Aren't Going Away

Above, a fuel-efficient United Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Recently, oil (and gasoline) prices have been dropping like rocks. I was wondering if airfares (along with the fuel surcharges) will be dropped or lowered likewise.

Apparently not, according to an article from AOL.com:

NEW YORK (AP) - Planes are full. Passengers clamor for amenities. Investors want a payout. New planes are on order. 

Those are all reasons the airlines likely won't be passing their recent savings on fuel along to fliers in the form of lower fares. 

In fact, fares are going higher. And those bag fees that airlines instituted in 2008 when fuel prices spiked aren't going away either.

It appears that shareholders will be getting dividends with the savings that the lower fuel costs have provided. So if you were counting on the airlines to help you to cheaply get to Japan or elsewhere, guess again.

The flying public is screwed again.

To read more, go here.