REPORT: Airlines in US Made $4.6 billion in Ancillary Fees in Second Quarter

According to the Department of Transportation, airlines in the U.S. made a total of $4.6 billion in ancillary fees in the second quarter, which is up from the $3.1 billion earned in the first quarter of the year. Baggage fees alone represent $1.1 billion of that figure, with reservation change fees pulling in $755 million. The numbers dropped compared to the second quarter of 2015, though, falling from $5.5 billion to $4.6 billion

Since 2008, the Department of Transportation revealed airlines have made more than $26.8 billion in baggage fees and more than $21.5 billion in ticket change and cancellation fees. These numbers do not take into consideration pet transportation fees, sale of frequent flyer award miles to airline business partners and standby passenger fees.

A separate report issued by airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany revealed that United Airlines earned $6.2 billion in 2015 in non-ticket revenue. The total is $1.5 billion more than American Airlines, $2.5 billion more than Delta Air Lines and $4 billion more than Southwest Airlines during the same time period.

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