Airlines are looking for quiet ways to raise fare prices and create more revenue. Of course they are. Oil prices are rapidly rising and the airline industry is in disarray. If you’re not careful, you may not even know about some of these fees until it’s too late! Here are 8 airline fees to watch out for and avoid paying:

1. Flight Change Fees - Most of the “cheap” plane tickets found today are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you want to change your flight date or time, be preparted to pay more than $50 in fees. For that price, that “cheap” ticket doesn’t seem so cheap anymore. Make sure your plans are established. If you think you may have to change your flight, look into spending a little extra to ensure your ticket is flexible.

2. Seating Choice Fees - Do you want to choose your own seat?  Nobody wants to sit in the middle seat and everyone wants some extra legroom.  There are a few options you have to ensure a more comfortable ride, but you’ll be paying for them.  American Airlines charges $15 to change seats for those who don’t buy their ticket directly from them.  United Airlines has an economy plus program that gives you 5″ of extra legroom whenever you fly.  But you’ll be paying a handsome $299 a year for membership.

3. Booking Fees - Unless you’re booking a flight directly from an airline’s website, you’ll likely be paying a booking fee.  Your bargain airfare suddenly becomes $15 or $20 more expensive.  Even if you call into the airline and directly book, you’ll be charged around a $15 phone processing fee.  Buying directly from an airline’s website is the only way to avoid paying a booking fee.  Can you find the same deals on an airline’s website though?

4. Curbside Check-in Fees - Many “quick-and-easy” curbside check-in locations will charge a few bucks to handle your luggage.  The upside is the lines are generally shorter and quicker if you’re in a rush.  The downside?  You’ll feel like a jerk if you don’t tip the person on top of the fee you pay.

5. Extra Luggage Fees - This is one fee that has consumers in an uproar right now.  Most airlines charge fees when luggage exceeds a certain weight or if you want to check in more than the standard (1 or 2) bags.  Now more airlines are charging fees to check in any bags.  United charges $15 each way for customers to check in a first bag and $25 each way to check in a second bag.  That means a person that wants to check in two bags for a round trip flight will pay $80 extra!

6. Hard Copy Ticket Fees - If you are clinging on to the past and have yet to embrace e-tickets, you’ll be paying a huge fee.  Airlines are charging people $50 to $75 if you want your plane ticket sent to you through the mail.  For me, e-tickets are much less of a hassle.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting my plane ticket and all I show up to the airport with is me and a form of ID.

7. In-Flight Ammenity Fees - More airlines are starting to charge fees for “comfort” items.  Air Canada now charges $2 for a pillow and a blanket and Jet Blue recently added a $2 charge to their headphones.  Others are following suit and adding fees to everything from snacks to coffee.

8. Redemption Fees - If you have frequent flier miles or travel vouchers that you want to redeem, you may have to pay some fees.  Northwest airlines charges $50 if you wait until the last minute to redeem voucher ticket.  And most of the time, you can’t redeem vouchers through the internet.  But if you redeem it over the phone, be prepared to pay those phone booking fees (see 3).

What new fees have you heard about?  Have you had to pay for any outrageous fees?