Delta finds new ways to take your money

When it jumped on the fees-for-a-second-checked-bag bandwagon, it seemed like Delta might just be targeting overpackers. But the airline is really making a name for itself as an equal-opportunity fee collector by raising the amount it charges frequent flyers, passengers traveling with pets, people booking tickets over the phone, and unaccompanied minors.

This USA Today article covers Delta’s latest fee hikes, announced as part of its ongoing attempt to offset rising fuel costs. The new charges include a $25 fee for a Delta award ticket booked “through a Delta representative that includes a segment on another airline.” Additionally, Delta has raised its telephone booking charge from $20 to $25.

Pet owners should prepare to fork over more to travel with their furry friends, as Delta is raising the fee for carrying a pet in the cabin from $75 to $100. But that’s not all. Oversize-bag fees will go up to $150 (from $100), and the unaccompanied-minor fee will be $100 on all flights instead of $50 for nonstop flights (the fee already was $100 for connecting flights).

Rising fuel costs is a huge issue, and one that’s not going to be solved by nickel-and-diming passengers. This should be the airlines’ motivation for getting serious about making the commercial airline industry way more fuel efficient. Because pretty soon the airlines are going to run out of random fees to increase or institute. And then what?