Stretch Your Travel Dollar

Due to economic problems every industry has been affected. The airline industry is one of the many that are struggling. Rising fuel price have increased ticket prices to high levels for travelers and airlines. In their struggle to have low tickets, carriers have decided to travel the fee way, charging for everything inside the plane, from pillows to peanuts.

Amenities that were once free perks already have price tags on them. Bags might as well have charge. First it was a charge for the second checked bag; now most airlines charge $15 or more for the first one.

Entrepreneurs who travel a lot will have to find new and creative ways to save as they fly the increasingly complex skies.

"Airlines will trim the fat and put the price tag on the amenities before they raise the ticket cost,” says Gabe Saglie, senior editor of Travelzoo, a website dedicated to travel deals, tips and trends. "That's why JetBlue charges $7 for a pillow. I don't doubt airlines will pick premium seats and tag on extra fees to them."

Pretzels and cookies are a thing of the past for economy class on United Airlines. And its free lunches for domestic business class passengers disappear Oct. 1.

But consumers should let the airlines know their limits. In early September, United Airlines addressed passengers' concerns when it scrapped a plan to charge $9 for a sandwich on international flights.

Expect More Cutbacks

On the heels of the eight biggest airlines removing 26,000 workers and taking 465 planes out of service because of fuel costs and record losses, travelers will still see more dramatic cutbacks in the next few months.

"Airlines are so much in the red they have to limit capacity and up fares 15 percent to really become solvent again," Saglie says. "I think we'll see a lot of mergers and scrapped services. Things like meals and blankets will be the first to go."

Airline industry professional Jerry Chandler, an aviation writer of more than 20 years says,” This summer seats were cut, but not nearly as markedly as people will see now that it's after Labor Day. If you're booking for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you should be booking now. It's that far out now if you're going to find a good rate."

Amidst all of this, there is good news. Fewer passengers’ means there will be fewer cancellations and delay. But ticket prices are expected to remain high, even as oil prices fall a little.The bad news is carriers are leaving smaller regional airports, frequent-flier miles are being devalued and business traveler airfares could increase 25 percent within the next year, according to Saglie.