Six Things to Know Before Buying That Cheap Air Ticket

It used to be the only surprise you would get when you showed up at the airport were Hare Krishnas. Not anymore.

With airfares at low levels not seen since Bush the Elder was vice president -- the average domestic fare this year slid to $109.68 -- these are the salad days for cost-conscious travelers, right? Yes, but the devil's in the details: Ailing U.S. airlines are jacking up those small-print fees and punitive costs.

"Business travelers aren't paying high fees anymore, with 88% of them flying on some kind of leisure fare," said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, a trade group representing traveler interests. "Some of them have been searching for loopholes, ways to use these discounted fares. But the airlines are tightening up to force business travelers to pay higher prices." ...