Airlines Charged $7.8 Billion in Fees in 2009

hoyasmeg, flickr

Airlines are staying high in the sky by collecting a variety of a la carte fees, and here's proof: Last year, airlines nickel-and-dimed travelers out of $7.8 billion dollars in fees. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), those numbers mark an astronomic 42 percent jump since 2008.