Avoiding Common Hidden Fees

The moment I learned that my favorite comedian was scheduled to perform nearby, I excitedly sprang into action to purchase tickets. The tickets for my preferred section were priced at $84 each—slightly steep but worth it for the joy they bring me. However, once I added in the service charges, taxes, and the fee for having the tickets emailed to me, my total surged to just over $200 for two seats.

Many who have recently purchased tickets for concerts, sports events, or comedy shows can relate to this situation. Hidden fees can significantly inflate the price of your ticket, often only revealing themselves once you’re at the payment stage. By then, your anticipation for the event makes it challenging to walk away from these unexpected costs.

Tickets aren’t the only area where hidden fees pop up. Below, you’ll find essential information regarding surprise charges associated with common purchases, as well as strategies to either prepare for or contest them.

Events

The landscape of purchasing tickets has drastically evolved over my lifetime. In high school, I would physically visit a box office or local vendor to grab tickets for upcoming shows. I even camped out to ensure I was among the first to secure a spot for a well-known band. In those days, the ticket’s face value closely matched what you actually paid, consisting mainly of just sales tax on top of the ticket price.

This all shifted with Ticketmaster’s rise, which soon became synonymous with ticket sales. The company introduced an array of fees like service, delivery, processing, and facility charges. These additional costs become apparent only after selecting your seats at the base ticket price while a timer ticks down, urging you to complete your purchase before someone else claims your seats.

Such fees can inflate ticket prices by 25% to 35%, and the combination of the countdown timer and late fee disclosure often leads customers to begrudgingly pay up despite their initial displeasure.

At one point, Ticketmaster wielded total control over ticket sales, and it continues to dominate over 80% of the market. Yet, alternative choices do exist.

Strategies for Reducing Fees

For those keen on attending concerts or sporting events, there are various tactics to decrease ticket-related fees. One option is to purchase your tickets directly from the venue, which can often yield lower prices. Buying my comedy tickets through the venue’s website cost me an additional $32, representing only a 19% increase, while opting for Ticketmaster would have added over 34%.

If you have more time than disposable income, consider returning to the traditional route of buying tickets in person at the box office, as it can lead to even greater savings.

Airline Tickets

Over the last ten years, airlines discovered ways to boost revenues by pulling back on complimentary services. They began imposing checked baggage fees, which can range from $10 to $150 per bag, varying based on the airline and baggage count.

Travelers quickly became aware of additional charges for selecting seats during online bookings. While there are a few “free” seats included in the ticket price, they tend to be sparsely located and often not next to one another. Consequently, passengers traveling together may find themselves needing to pay a seat selection fee for the convenience of sitting together.

There are also fees for in-flight entertainment and refreshments, which can artificially inflate your travel costs by 50% or more.

Strategies for Reducing Fees

In the airline sector, fee structures vary widely. This presents an opportunity to shop around and minimize extra charges. Certain budget airlines allow passengers to check two bags for free, bypass seat selection fees, and enjoy snacks, drinks, and in-flight entertainment at no additional cost.

Even if your choices are limited by location and distance to major airports, you can still keep fees under control by booking your tickets well in advance. The sooner you secure a ticket, the better your chances of choosing your seats without incurring any charges.

Moreover, having a clear understanding of your airline’s fee structure can prevent last-minute surprises. Knowing beforehand that a checked bag will incur a fee gives you the choice to pack light with just carry-on luggage. Plus, you can be prepared with your own snacks and entertainment to avoid buying them during the flight. (Refer to: How to Save Money on Flights Using Fare Alerts)

Hotels

When securing a hotel room online, you have the advantage of comparing rates to find the most competitive option. However, the final amount due at checkout might not reflect the advertised price due to additional charges like resort fees, parking costs, booking fees, and Wi-Fi charges.

These fees can differ significantly and can be challenging to identify upfront. Resort fees, for example, are a daily charge for the use of hotel amenities (like gym or pool access) and are mandatory, even if you don’t intend to use those facilities. Most hotels apply a flat daily rate for these fees or assess them based on a percentage of the room rate or a per-person basis.

Strategies for Reducing Fees

Parking and Wi-Fi fees tend to be the easiest to ascertain in advance. Gathering this information by making inquiries can help you choose a place to stay. You may also qualify for discounts on these fees through organizations like AAA or AARP or via hotel loyalty programs.

While many countries forbid undisclosed fees like resort and online booking charges, the lack of specific prohibitions in the United States allows for such practices. However, deceptive pricing remains unlawful. Thus, you can research resort fees through the hotel’s website or by direct communication, though finding this information may take some effort.

To avoid resort fees altogether, consider only booking with hotels that don’t impose these charges—there’s a site, ResortFeeChecker.com, that can help with this. Additionally, using travel rewards points can often exempt you from resort fees, while hotel loyalty programs may facilitate stays without additional charges. (See also: How Travel Rewards Cards Can Help You Score Luxury Travel Perks)

Lastly, avoiding hotel stays in favor of alternative accommodations through services like Airbnb or VRBO can lead to more affordable options without unexpected fees.