Airline Fees Higher Than The Planes Fly

After hurricane Katrina hit and we evacuated I was hit by another kind of "hurricane"- price gouging by the airlines. Nine days after the storm when my city first allowed residents to return to view property it said that children were not allowed to return with parents, due to the dangers of flood waters, no electricity or water in homes, downed power lines, debris, lack of sanitation, few police officers etc... Jane had to be sent to her mom's relatives, with her mom's parents as well.
When we took them to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana (near where we had evacuated) airport I was charged $2450 for three one way tickets to Toronto, about $1800 more than I would have paid by purchasing them in advance. The Delta air agent who sold me the tickets even responded when I questioned the fairness of charging so much to refugees sending their daughter to safety, "You should have bought advanced purchase tickets."
Haha After I explained that I was not capable of knowing when major hurricanes would hit, she still seemed clue less. And that price was the same or higher on al the airlines. I have never gotten a response form Delta when I wrote to question that after my return home. The point of all this is that airlines here and in many other countries are going broke and desperate now, They couldn't se the unfairness of the sale of those tickets to me because every penny they earned is truly needed.
Need more examples of this financial distress airlines are suffering. Here are a few.
1) Ask for a pillow or blanket on Air Canada and you will be SOLD one in the form of a "comfort package" that costs $2.
2) Want to check in luggage curbside? Some airlines now charge $3 for that.
3) Talking to an airline reservation agent instead of booking a ticket here on the internet will add $% to $10 to your ticket cost.
4) A paper ticket instead of an E ticket will cost from $20 to $30 for a domestic U.S. flight.
5) If your luggage weighs more than 22 1/2 kilos most airlines here will charge an extra $25. A third bag checked in costs the passenger $80 more.
6) Changing a seat once booked costs anywhere from $25 to $50.
7) My favorite exit or bulkhead row seat now costs an extra $15
8) Unaccompanied minor child fee- $40 each way!
9) Checked bags on international flights- $4-$7 per bag
10) Food on domestic flights- $5-%10 per meal
11) A soda or snack- $1 each
12) In cabin pets under the seat- $5- to $100 each way.
Most of these charges did not exist as recently two years ago. But what alternative does the traveler have but to pay the charges, as all the airlines are doing it? Oh well, I suppose the alternative to the extra fees is more bankrupt airlines which would mean even higher prices that we pay now, charges included.