Originally Posted by
HighLife
I wouldn't say they were 'fine'.
If you're just looking to get from A to B - which is pretty much the definition of the cost-conscious traveller - then they are certainly fine.
Originally Posted by
HighLife
but as it started to squeeze me for more and more cash in more and more underhand ways
Well, I agree that various fees can be annoying, but the ones that can't be avoided can just be considered part of the fare (like the fuel surcharge or the handling fee that any airline charges).
Why anyone would choose to subject themselves to the so-called "optional charges", I don't know - but to avoid some of them you definitely need to know what you are doing, i.e. turning up at the airport without pre-booking baggage or printing a boarding pass is just such a no-no - but I presume you're not talking about those.