Air Pain: Frustrating Fees

Traveling light saves money: checking even one bag can cost you.

Several online companies now offer "vacation insurance." Travelers can be reimbursed for any parts of a vacation that are ruined, but there are strict guidelines before payout.

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Despite the frustration passengers feel over the increasing air travel costs, the prices do not meet the actual cost of airline operations.

"The consumer has been on a multi-year party here with airfares, because they have been well below airline cost," said airline analyst Robert Mann. "Prices are lower than they need to be. They need to be risen by about 20 percent."

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The latest moves came this week, when United and US Airways announced they would match a $15 fee charged by American Airlines to check your first bag. That fee comes in addition to the $25 that airlines recently started charging to check a second bag.

US Airways also announced it would charge coach passengers $2 for sodas and fruit juices on domestic flights, and raise the $5 charge for alcoholic drinks to $7.