AlaskaAir drops anchor on your wallet: New fees hit seat selection and bag tags starting next week.
Passengers flying Alaska Airlines are about to feel a new pinch in their pockets as the carrier quietly rolls out added charges for basic economy tickets. Starting Monday, travelers in the lowest fare class will have to pay up to $12 each way just to pick a seat at booking, and even standard checked bags will cost $35 for the first piece—a jump from the previous included allowance. The move, buried in a policy update, targets budget-conscious fliers who thought they’d locked in a deal. Consumer advocates warn this is just the latest trend of airlines nickel-and-diming customers, with AlaskaAir joining rivals in peeling back perks that used to be free. For a family of four flying roundtrip from Seattle to Los Angeles, that could mean coughing up an extra $240 just for seat assignments and luggage—a hidden expense that blows the advertised fare out of the water. Bottom line: If you’re booking basic economy on AlaskaAir, expect to pay more than the sticker price or risk sitting apart from your kids.