An interesting new Web tool for discerning the total cost of your air travel has been rolled out just as airline fees and new taxes appear to be proliferating as never before.
Arthur Frommer writes about a new site called TruPrice that tracks every fee attached to your upcoming trip. He ran a test drive of the tool and says "it will import reality into your travel planning."
Here is more reality: just this month, the German government instituted a new "ecological air travel levy" that could add between €8 and €45 to the cost of your ticket, depending upon the duration of the flight. ATWOnline reports Lufthansa found the new tax a complete surprise a few months ago when it was proposed, and International Air Transport Association CEO Giovanni Bisignani is quoted as saying the departure fee is nothing more than a "cash-grab" with "no environmental benefit." Reports say the revenue goes into the German government's general fund with no plans to use it for environmental purposes.
German aviation interests protest that travelers will back away from their offerings if they can find connecting flights that don't involve the departure tax. It's another variable you need to consider when booking budget travel.
Some fees are imposed by the airlines themselves and are easier to bypass. Check out ways to avoid those airline charges and keep your travel costs within budget.