Extra Fees Are Everywhere

I take exception to your article “Air Tickets’ Base Price Is Just Part of the Fare” (Travel Insider, Jan. 6). You make it sound as though the airlines are the only ones that charge fees and taxes on top of their base price. Why are you picking on an industry that will have a multibillion-dollar loss for last year? I, for one, will be glad to pay an extra $10 per round trip for security.

Let’s not forget about cruise ships. The last cruise I sailed on, the taxes and fees were $139.75 per person. For four, that was an additional $559.

I just made travel plans. The rental car costs $330. With the concession recoupment fee, rental maintenance fee, license fee and state tax fee, the total for the rental is $375. That is about 13% in taxes and fees. For the hotel, there are a sales tax of 4.166% and a 7.25% transient accommodations tax, plus a resort fee of $12 per night.

Please do not pick on one industry when all charge these fees and taxes.

CRAIG KRONFELD

Oak Park, Calif.