Three Annoying Travel Costs I always Forget

Even the best accountant can miss costs. I’m not claiming to be one of those, but I can usually guesstimate how much I’m going to spend on a trip. I’m not talking about stuff like Starbucks at the airport, even though those little things add up. Instead, I’m referring to the stuff that I flat over look no matter how much I travel. It absolutely chaps my hide every time. You’d think I’d learn by now.

Airport Parking

Ideally, I’d like to be dropped off and picked up right in front, but finding someone that’s able to go to the airport at 10:30 am on a Tuesday is not an easy task, so often times I just drive myself. If I’ve given myself plenty of time, I’ll use one of the off-site airport parking lots. You know, the ones that pick you up in a little bus and drop you off at your terminal? If I’m really organized then I will have remembered my 20% off coupon.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes I’m running a bit behind and just have to suck it up and park in the airport’s garage. Although convenient, it comes with a steep price tag.

No matter where I park and for how many days I’m gone, I never remember to figure in the cost of parking into my expenses. It stings each time I pull out my credit card to pay for the privilege for my car to have a place to sit. I paid $150 for 17 days of uncovered, off-premise parking during my recent European trip with the 20% off coupon. And for a four-day trip to Boston in January, I paid $80 to park at the airport. Ouch!

Eventually I’ll learn or find a bored friend with no job or life to speak of.

Wi-Freakin-Fi

In this day and age, do hotels not realize that it behooves them to offer free wi-fi? I can promise you that if I have two hotels with most everything being equal {price, location, quality, etc}, I will choose the hotel with the free wi-fi in a heartbeat. Yes, it’s a no-brainer given my ever-present need to be online, but even for the regular, non-Internet obsessed customer, free wi-fi is important.

What burns my bottom more than anything else is when high-end hotels that cost $250+ are charging for wi-fi {I’m looking at you, hotel that uses the 23rd letter of the alphabet as its name}. Perhaps these properties think that if their customers can afford to pay so much per night then an extra $20 on top of the rate will never be noticed. WRONG! As a consumer, I think, “If I’m paying $250+ per night, the least you can do is give me free wi-fi.” Keep your turn-down service and bowl of fruit. Give me free wi-fi so I can tweet and Facebook how damn great your hotel is!

FREE Wi-Freakin-Fi!!!!

Luggage Fees

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “As much as Leah travels, she doesn’t remember luggage fees?” Well, of course I do, although I rarely have to pay them. If my luggage allowance isn’t taken care of through my status, it’s comped through my United credit card. Here’s a tip: If you don’t have status with an airline, get their credit card. Even if the card has a yearly fee and you only fly twice a year, you’ll probably be even-Steven on money. And, you’ll come out ahead of the game if you fly more than that. But I digress.

My issue with luggage fees {other than that they exist} is that they are not consistent between partner airlines. Let me explain. Say that I fly on Platinum status with United to London. Because of that status, I’m allowed something like 70 pounds per bag rather than 50 pounds for those that don’t have Platinum status. It’s one of the perks.

Now, let’s say after a glorious month traveling throughout Europe, I’ve found my way to Frankfurt where I’ll fly Lufthansa back to Houston. Lufthansa and United are both Star Alliance partners and code share some flights, including many of the Frankfurt-Houston routes. I strut up to the Lufthansa counter to check my 70-pound bag and surprise–I’m paying for an overweight bag. “Butttttt…This is a code-share flight! I’m flying on United Platinum status and I’m Gold for Star Alliance,” I whine.

“Es tut mir leid, aber Sie haben zu zahlen.” I think that’s German for “Quit your bitching and pay the fee, lady.”

This has happened to me on several occasions, including with Air China. No matter how much I stomp my feet, puff my lip out, or whine like Veruca Salt, I always wind up handing over the credit card. One day I’m going to learn to streamline my packing for both my back and wallet’s sake.

So there you go. I could make this into a David Letterman Top Ten List but I’ve vowed not to complain as much in 2013, so I’ve limited it to three. Go on. Tell me your annoying travel costs. Let me hear ’em.