11 Things That Are No Longer Free

3. Seat assignment on flights

The price of an airline ticket used to be the same whether you were in an aisle seat or a window seat. Now prices can vary depending on where you sit, and many airlines charge a fee for seat selection.

According to an analysis by NerdWallet, Delta charges $24.99 on average each way for seat selection in basic economy; American charges $33.33 on average; United charges $58.49 on average; and JetBlue charges a whopping $73.33 on average. When you spot cheap airline tickets, check whether there are seat selection fees, says Melanie Musson, a frequent flier who works and lives in Belgrade, Montana. “It’s the strategy of airlines to offer cheap base prices to attract customers who [then] end up paying more in fees.”

4. Compressed air for tires

Filling up your vehicle’s tires used to be free at most gas stations, but that’s no longer the case. Many stations now charge $1.50 to $2.50 per five minutes of compressed air.

Fed up with paying to maintain the correct tire pressure? FreeAirPump.com lets you search by ZIP code for gas stations and convenience stores that offer free compressed air. You can also use a bike pump if the tires need only a few pounds of air, but you may be in for a bit of a workout. Another option is to get a portable tire inflator, which costs as little as $20; toss it in the trunk for peace of mind.

5. Hotel amenities

Many hotels and resorts charge a “resort fee” for amenities they used to offer guests for free, like WiFi, parking and gym access. Some will even charge you separate fees for checking in early or using the in-room safe or coffee maker. The average resort fee is $33 a day, according to a NerdWallet analysis of 30 hotels worldwide.

Many hotels and resorts used to include their fees on the checkout page when customers booked rooms online, making them easy to overlook. But the Federal Trade Commission recently required hotels and vacation rental platforms to disclose all mandatory fees up front. 

You might be able to dodge the resort fee if you book your room using points through the hotel’s loyalty program.

6. Restaurant reservations

A growing number of restaurants are requiring diners to provide their credit card information when reserving a table and charging fees for no-shows and late cancellations, according to Resy data cited by the New York Times. These fees typically run $20 to $40 per person.

If you need to cancel a reservation, do it by the restaurant’s stated cutoff time, which is typically 24 hours prior. If you have to make a last-minute cancellation, call the restaurant and ask for the fee to be waived. The establishment may be more amenable to waiving the fee if you agree to rebook for another date.

7. In-flight snacks

Peanuts, pretzels, cookies and other small bites used to be free on flights, but airlines are increasingly charging for them. 

Many budget airlines “don’t provide anything without a fee,” says Musson. “Your affordable flight can quickly become unaffordable when you add all the things you would have expected to be included.”

8. Paying with a credit card

Some businesses are passing credit card processing fees along to customers. These fees, often called “credit card convenience fees,” are typically 1.5 to 3.5 percent of the total bill.

Try using cash for smaller purchases to avoid these fees. If you must use a credit card, you might be able to offset the charges by using one that offers rewards, like cash back or points.

9. Event processing fees

In the past, when attending a movie, sporting event or concert, you were typically on the hook only for the cost of admission.

Today, many ticket sellers charge customers “convenience fees” for processing ticket sales. These fees can range from a few dollars per ticket to $10 to $20 per ticket, depending on the merchant — or they may be a percentage of the ticket price, potentially adding a hefty sum to the cost.

“To skip those crazy ticket fees for concerts, games and online events, just grab tickets right at the venue or look for days when they ditch the fees altogether,” recommends Laurie Hise, founder of the budgeting blog Passionate Penny Pincher.

10. In-store gift wrapping

Once a courtesy for shoppers, many brick-and-mortar retailers now charge as much as $15 to wrap up your purchases.  

The time of year you shop might help you avoid gift-wrapping fees. “Some retailers offer free gift wrapping during the holidays as a promotional perk, so look out for those offers,” says Woroch. “Otherwise, you may have to hit a spending minimum in order to qualify for free gift wrapping.”

11. Condiments and drink refills at restaurants​

Some restaurants and fast food chains, like Taco Bell, Chipotle and Chick-fil-A, now charge diners for coffee and soda refills, as well as toppings and sauces. 

These fees aren’t easy to avoid, so don’t get blindsided: Before you place your order, kindly ask your server whether the restaurant charges for extras.