Delta, AAL Hike Fares; US Airways Charges For Window Seats

Better plan on yet another unpleasant surprise if you must travel on commercial airlines. This week, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines each announced new hikes in their airfares, pushing full-fare coach prices for a transcontinental flight to over $1,000 round-trip.

The latest price increase is at least the 10th time airlines have hiked ticket prices this year, reports The New York Times. While it's not yet known if other airlines will match the increase, that's a safe bet as fuel prices continue to climb.

Even if other airlines don't match the increased ticket prices, however, that doesn't mean you'll be cut a break. From charging monsterous fuel fees, to nickel-and-diming passengers for such niceties as a meal, checked luggage, or a pittance of extra legroom... airlines are looking for all the extra money than can coax out of their customers, as they try desperately to squeak into profitability.

Want extra legroom? JetBlue will be more than happy to relieve your wallet of $10. Ditto if you want a window or aisle seat towards the front of a US Airways plane.

"If summer travelers are expecting to see the same sorts of air fares they saw last summer, they’re going to be very unpleasantly surprised," said Tim Winship, editor of SmarterTravel.com. "With both the net air fares and what people end up paying because of the additional fees, everything is going to be higher in summer 2008 than in summer 2007."

Winship also notes it's becoming harder and harder for passengers to determine what's included in the price of their ticket. On most carriers, it includes at least one checked bag, and two on Southwest; but if you fly on Spirit Airlines, be prepared to pay as much as $20 to check a single item of luggage.

Some carriers, including American, only disclose the full fare -- including all applicable fees -- once a customer clicks through to purchase the reservation on their websites.

"Not only is there no transparency, there is no consistency to the way the airlines are not transparent," Winship said. "It adds insult to injury."

FMI: www.aa.com, www.delta.com, www.usairways.com, www.jetblue.com