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Home › Pay › Common problems › Hotel, airline and rental car fees
Fees and services

Hotel, airline and rental car fees

Travel prices often grow between the first search and the final checkout. Hotels may add resort or cleaning fees, airlines charge for bags and seats, and rental cars add insurance, fuel and toll options. This page explains common fees, federal rules that help you, and how to compare the true total before you book.

Common problems to watch for

  • Low nightly rates with mandatory resort, destination or cleaning fees added
  • Basic fares that charge extra for a carry-on, seat choice or changes
  • Rental car insurance and fuel plans pushed hard at the counter
  • Toll or electronic pass charges that add daily fees to a rental
  • Prepaid, non-refundable rates shown first as the cheapest option
  • Travel credits offered instead of a refund you may be owed

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

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Free and low-cost alternatives

U.S. DOT air travel consumer helpThe Department of Transportation's website explains passenger rights, including refunds for canceled or significantly changed flights, and lets you file a complaint for free.
Book directly and compareCheck the hotel's, airline's or rental company's own website for the full price and fees, and compare it to travel sites before booking.
Check your existing coverageYour own car insurance or credit card may already cover rental cars. Call or read your policy before buying coverage at the counter.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

How companies charge more here: Unbundling · Drip pricing · Restaurant surcharges · Shrinkflation · Tip requests everywhere · Surge and dynamic pricing · Shrinking rewards · Fake discounts

What fair pricing looks like

A fair travel price shows every mandatory fee in the total from the start and lists optional extras clearly. For hotels and vacation rentals, a federal rule now requires mandatory fees to be included in the advertised total.

Before you pay

  • Compare total prices with all fees, not nightly or base fares.
  • Check bag, seat and change fees for your fare type.
  • Read the cancellation and refund policy before booking.
  • Check if your insurance or card covers rental cars.
  • Ask how tolls and fuel are billed on a rental.

How to cancel

  1. Cancel hotels inside the free-cancellation window and save the confirmation number.
  2. If an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you do not accept the change, you may be due a cash refund instead of a credit.
  3. Return rental cars on time with the agreed fuel level and take photos at drop-off.
  4. If a refund you are owed does not arrive, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

Do I get a refund if my flight is canceled?

Under a Department of Transportation rule, if a U.S. or foreign airline cancels or significantly changes a flight to or from the U.S. and you choose not to travel or accept other options, you are entitled to a refund to your original payment method, not just a voucher.

Are hotel resort fees still allowed?

Hotels can still charge mandatory fees, but since May 12, 2025, an FTC rule requires hotels and short-term rentals to include mandatory fees, like resort or cleaning fees, in the total price they advertise. Taxes can be shown separately before you pay. Report hidden fees at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Do I need the rental company's insurance?

Not always. Your own auto insurance or a credit card benefit may already cover a rental car, though coverage varies. Check before your trip so you are not deciding under pressure at the counter. Read what each option covers and what deductible applies.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.