Airlines collect big revenue from extra fees

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Airline revenue from all those extra fees -- for overweight baggage, snacks and premium seating, among other things -- jumped by 345% from 2006 to 2008, according to a study released this week.

IdeaWorks, a consulting firm based in Shorewood, Wis., looked at the financial statements of 92 airlines and concluded that all of those extra fees generated $10.25 billion for the industry.

In contrast, the airlines collected about $2.3 billion in revenue from ancillary fees in 2006, according to the study.

American Airlines collected the biggest chunk of the fees in 2008, about $2.4 billion, according to the study.

-- Hugo Martin, Times Staff Writer

Photo: Rizwan Batel and his wife, Sabera, wait at Los Angeles International Airport to begin their trip on American Airlines to Mumbai. Credit: Los Angeles Timees.