A surprise fee for Fido

Q: I just returned to Port au Prince, Haiti, from Dallas with my partner and my dog. On the outbound leg of our trip, I was charged $100 for the pet kennel, which is exactly what I had expected to pay. I read the information on American Airlines’ Web site and also discussed the fee with a reservations agent before our flight.

However, on our way back to Haiti, a ticket agent charged me $100 — which I expected — plus an additional $80 in “excess luggage” fees. I was surprised and disappointed, since there wasn’t a word about this surcharge on American’s Web site. But the agent insisted that I pay the fee.

I’ve written to American asking them to refund the $80 or at least to update its Web site so that this misunderstanding doesn’t happen to anyone else. The airline sent me two form letters, both of them insisting that the airline is right. American hasn’t updated its Web site, either. Can you help?

– Kurt Low, Dulles, Va.

A: American Airlines should have charged you what it said it would charge for transporting your pet: $100. And that’s all.

As you correctly point out, American’s Web site is crystal clear about what you should pay. For pets traveling within the United States and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, there’s a $100 fee when they are being checked with your luggage.

So where did the $80 fee come from? That’s the charge for pets traveling in the cabin within the United States and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The ticket agent overcharged you by $80. But why? According to the second letter you received from American, the agent made an assessment that you should pay an excess luggage fee. In fact, agents are often encouraged by their airline, and sometimes rewarded, for charging passengers extra for their luggage. I have no problem with that, as long as the charges are legitimate. In your case, they weren’t.

I think you saw this one coming a mile away, and frankly, I’m a little surprised that you didn’t take a few extra precautionary steps. If you suspected that American would nickel-and-dime you to transport your dog — and you did, otherwise you wouldn’t have consulted the Web site and called the airline — then why didn’t you carry a printout of the rates from the site? It would have been as easy as clicking the “Print” button on your Web browser.

And if you knew that the ticket agent was wrong about the fee, why not ask to speak with a supervisor? Remember, once the airline (or any travel company, for that matter) has taken your money, and you’ve walked away, it will do everything it can to keep it. Next time, stand your ground when you know you’re right.

I contacted American on your behalf. After twice denying you a refund, it took another look at your record and determined that it shouldn’t have charged you the extra $80 after all. American has sent the money back to you, along with an apology.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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