Frontier the latest to add booking fee

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

Denver-based Frontier Airlines is the latest carrier to announce a booking fee. This one is a “nonrefundable $5 service fee for reservations resulting in an e-ticket made through the Reservations call center of the Frontier Ticket Counter.” Translation: It now costs you more to book over the phone or in person than it does through Frontier’s website. The fee does not apply to Frontier’s “Summit” members, however.

What’s insulting is not the fee, which many other airlines also charge, but the fact that Frontier says it’s doing this because “we want to give our passengers the best value in the industry and [forcing them to use Frontier’s website] allows us to do that.” Really? And here I thought this move was made because it’s cheaper for the airline to handle ticket sales online than through a reservations agent.

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