<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by 26miles:
However, I like to look at the "early departure fee" as a contract termination fee.</font>
A contract, by definition, must disclose all terms when both parties enter into it. This fee is disclosed only at check-in, when the guest is at a significant disadvantage. It would be different if this fee were disclosed at reservation, but it's not.