Air travel has drastically changed over the years. Not only have the safety issues (thanks to terrorism) changed how we travel, the fuel shortage has exacerbated the problem.

With the rising cost of fuel, airlines have been raising ticket prices and trying to cut costs, at the same time. And so, for the past few years, airlines have been nickel and diming us to death. It started with airlines charging for checked baggage. Some airlines charge for the 2nd checked bag, now American Airlines (and several others) charges for the 1st bag. $15.00 for the 1st one and anywhere from $15.00 to $125.00 for the 2nd and 3rd. That’s not including overweight fees which can run between an additional $25.00 to $150.00! To add insult to injury, they’ve also lowered the weight limits. So, of course, everyone is opting to cram as much as they can into carry-on baggage, which makes for a challenging time when everyone is trying to shove their overstuffed bags into the small overhead bins.

Then some airlines started adding curbside check-in fees- from $2.00 on up, which does not include the tip. Others now charge for snacks, water, pillows, blankets and even seat preference. Some even charge to book a flight over the telephone. But if you think that’s bad, no-frills Irish airline, Ryanair, is considering charging £1 ($1.50) to use the toilets on their flights. In a BBC interview, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said they were actually thinking of installing coin slots on the lavatory doors, so

“people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny.”

“Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it.

“However, this highlights Ryanair’s continuing obsession with lowering costs and passing these savings on in the form of lower fares.

“Ancillary revenues, all of which are avoidable, help to reduce the cost of flying Ryanair and passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet so why not on airplanes?

“Not everyone uses the toilet on board one of our flights but those that do could help to reduce airfares for all passengers.”

In its efforts to cut costs, Ryanair also charges

£30 to check in a bag, £10 to pay for flights with a debit or credit card (excluding Visa Electron), £60 to check in sports or music equipment, £15 for each kilo of excess baggage, £50 to change a flight and £100 to change the name on a ticket.

You have to wonder, how much you really save when all those charges keep adding up.

The worst U.S. airlines as far as additional fees go?

Top honors go to U.S. Airways, then United Airlines, with Delta and American tied for 3rd.

What are they going to charge for next, the amount of air we breathe?

To save on some of those fees:

Pack lightly, and only what you need, in a carry-on bag. Most hotels provide hairdryers, toiletries like shampoo, and irons. If you have to bring more than one pair of shoes, wear the heaviest pair. If you roll your clothes, you will fit more into a bag and they will wrinkle less.

Pack your own snacks. Bring an empty plastic bottle for water and fill it up once you pass security.

Bring a sweater or coat to use as a blanket.

Remember, you can always get practically anything you need at your destination.

Don’t let the airlines nickel and dime you to death.