Delta drops fee for tickets bought on phone and at airports

You know all those fees that airlines have added over the last several years? Delta is taking one away.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Thursday it would drop the fee for U.S. consumers who buy tickets over the phone or at a ticket counter. The phone fee was $25 and the fee for a ticket bought at an airport or other ticket counter was $35.

Incoming Delta President Glen Hauenstein says dropping the fee makes things simpler for customers.

Most other major U.S. airlines charge these fees. (Southwest Airlines says it doesn't.) They are designed to encourage consumers to buy tickets online, which is cheaper for the airlines than maintaining big call centers.

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