Carrier Interface Charge / "CIC"
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 38,151
I think your right about airline imposed fees like the CIC, any fuel surcharges, etc. However, I think the airport or goverment imposed fees should be able to be added at check-out. Frontier doesn't charge me the the CMH Passenger Facility charge thats a fee from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The LAS PFC is a fee from Clark County, NV. Any airline imposed fee should be included in the total. Its not much money but an increased goverment/airport fee now gets absorbed by the airline because lets say Frontier is charging $19 for the flight from CMH to LAS. Columbus says, well we have a new terminal we need to pay for and ups its PFC to $9.00 from $4.50. Frontier has 2 options it can "raise fares" to $23.50 or it can keep the $19 fare and eat the extra $4.50 because $19 fares sound better than $23.50 and besides Frontier is not charging you $23.50 to go from CMH to LAS its charging you $10, CMH and LAS are getting the other $13.50
The one place this is totally out of control is car rentals, why should Avis be able to charge me a surcharge to recoup registration fees, did I miss the part where registering a car with a state is not the normal cost of running a rental car business??
The one place this is totally out of control is car rentals, why should Avis be able to charge me a surcharge to recoup registration fees, did I miss the part where registering a car with a state is not the normal cost of running a rental car business??
I also remember way back when airlines said they'd start itemizing all the taxes (back when they had paper tickets). They can still do that if they want (i.e. give a breakdown of that), but given how that's a preferred place for airline-imposed fees that some airlines try to make look like taxes, the info isn't always complete.
As for the car rents, those have gotten unbelievable, with 6 or more different added lines in some cities. Some that are taxes are really ridiculous and unfair, like Kansas City and the very expensive "downtown arena fee." You've also got BOTH the vehicle license fee and an extra road tax in some places, as well as high customer facility charges (for consolidated rental places) AND concession recoupment fees. The CFCs make the consolidated facilities look more like something done TO you than FOR you, and the concession recoupment should really be a cost-of-doing-business (as are others that aren't taxes). You also get "energy surcharges" and companies like Avis that want $1/day if FF miles are earned.
BTW, one of the worst states on the tax side is Taxes...er, Texas.
#19
Join Date: May 2004
Location: HYI/AUS/SAT originally TTN/EWR/PHL
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards, Jetblue TrueBlue, American Advantage
Posts: 1,190
No only the CIC will be waived at the airport. The rest are all government or airport fees. I actually just bought my first CIC free ticket the other day in Trenton. It was a second seat ticket for my return as I am a passenger of size. It was a $19 fare from Orlando to Trenton and while the CIC was only $4 I was going to be at TTN for some more pictures I wanted to shoot for my website. Best part of it was that the women who was issuing the ticket upgraded my seats to Stretch seats on both my tickets. I had paid $9 for seats on my first one. I think it has to do with working as a cashier. I am now extremely patient and polite to retail workers
#21
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 71
No only the CIC will be waived at the airport. The rest are all government or airport fees. I actually just bought my first CIC free ticket the other day in Trenton. It was a second seat ticket for my return as I am a passenger of size. It was a $19 fare from Orlando to Trenton and while the CIC was only $4 I was going to be at TTN for some more pictures I wanted to shoot for my website. Best part of it was that the women who was issuing the ticket upgraded my seats to Stretch seats on both my tickets. I had paid $9 for seats on my first one. I think it has to do with working as a cashier. I am now extremely patient and polite to retail workers
#22
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,620
I tried to buy a ticket with The Works at the airport, and all the counter agents said that they cannot add The Works. A phone agent told me the same thing. Your mileage may vary.
In effect, The Works cost me an extra $19 by forcing me to buy it online. I am addicted to refundability, flying Southwest and using points to buy tickets if the passenger does not fly often.
In effect, The Works cost me an extra $19 by forcing me to buy it online. I am addicted to refundability, flying Southwest and using points to buy tickets if the passenger does not fly often.
#25
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: TOL
Posts: 741
Don't make a reservation in advance. Just walk up to the ticket counter (preferably at a time when they are not busy with flight check in) and tell the agent you would like to buy a ticket. They will make the reservation for you and take your payment. Sometimes they even will give you a seat assignment without charge.
#28
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
You don't give a date but I can see a $94 fare on 6/15. The cheapest Flight I could find for 6/15 was $110 on AA, and it included a plane change.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,536
Any issues buying tickets at airport for passengers not present? Looking at myself + one and hoping only I need to trek out to the airport to do it. I read Spirit has required the traveler to be present for purchase.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SEA, ATL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist -> AA Executive Platinum, BAEC Gold, Spirit Lifetime Somebody
Posts: 131
In my experiences, Spirit does not require the passenger to be present.