5 things you have to pay for when you travel that were free 5 years ago

It’s a brave new world in the travel space, with companies increasingly looking for ways to maximize revenue and minimize benefits for some customers. While elite status has gotten much harder to earn for most loyalty programs, it also often comes with fewer benefits or points or miles that are harder to use. But it’s …

Jun 4, 2025 - 19:08

5 things you have to pay for when you travel that were free 5 years ago

It’s a brave new world in the travel space, with companies increasingly looking for ways to maximize revenue and minimize benefits for some customers. While elite status has gotten much harder to earn for most loyalty programs, it also often comes with fewer benefits or points or miles that are harder to use.

But it’s not just those with elite perks. All of us are paying more … and sometimes for less.

I recently stayed at the lovely Hyatt Place San Francisco / Downtown, where I was shocked to learn that the property is now charging for breakfast (except when it’s waived for those with elite status). It turns out that Hyatt is piloting a new policy that does not include breakfast at 40 Hyatt Place hotels.

Thanks to my top-tier status, breakfast did not cost extra for me, but it got me thinking of all the things that were free in the travel space as recently as five years ago that you now have to pay for.

Resort, destination and city fees

resort fee card — Resort fee card. THE POINTS GUY

Like a plague, resort fees (aka destination, amenity or city fees) have spread across the country and even around the world. Once restricted to true resorts that included extras like loaner beach chairs and activities, these fees are now prevalent at even the humblest of properties.

Unfortunately, most of the things properties advertise as benefits of the resort fee are perks that were once free, like Wi-Fi access, local calls and use of the gym.

At TPG, we’ve seen resort fees as high as $150 a night! It’s outrageous and very frustrating. The only good news about these fees is that new rules require that they be disclosed during the booking process. New rules on “junk fees” announced during the Biden administration went into effect in May, so at least there is more transparency on the books now.

Breakfast

No free breakfast at Hyatt Place properties would be a major disappointment, but even with this possible change, Hyatt remains the most generous hotel chain when it comes to free breakfast for elite members. Hyatt guarantees free breakfast for its top-tier elite members.

Marriott offers free breakfast at some of its chains, like SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn, but at most brands, you’ll pay for breakfast. Marriott Bonvoy elite members (those with Platinum Elite status and above) used to get free breakfast, too, but that’s been whittled away over the years, with guests at other chains now having to choose the benefit instead of getting welcome points or other amenities.

Hilton has changed its breakfast benefits for elite members as well. While it still offers free breakfast at chains like Hampton by Hilton, Hilton has moved to a food-and-beverage credit model that gives you anywhere from $10 to $25 per guest, depending on the hotel brand. Some of my colleagues at TPG actually prefer this over free breakfast, but I find it never quite covers breakfast during my stays.

In any case, if the Hyatt Place test is successful (from a revenue management perspective, at least), I’d expect you’ll see more entry-level chains ditching their free breakfast benefit.

Seat assignments

Delta one cabin — CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

More and more airlines are now charging for seat assignments … even in business class.

Charges for seat assignments are common in coach cabins, but airlines are getting more and more creative at segmenting their cabins. Look no further than Delta Air Lines, which just unveiled a new fare structure that divides up each of its cabins into miniature tiers with various perks.

There is speculation that Delta is also considering charging for seat assignments in Delta One, like its partners Air France and KLM already do.

British Airways has been the leader on this front. It debuted charging for seat assignments in the business-class cabin in 2009. Lufthansa, Swiss and a few other European carriers also charge for some business-class seat assignments.

There’s no telling how high these charges could eventually get, but I’d put money on it happening, especially as United Airlines, Delta and American Airlines are all rolling out fancy new suite products.

Parking

Free parking has never been a thing at many high-end resorts, but it used to be a benefit of staying at casino hotels in Las Vegas. That came to an end in 2016 when many of the biggest hotels and resorts started charging for parking. Wynn and Encore eliminated parking fees in 2019 but brought them back in 2023. Spending $20 a day for self-parking and $40 a day for valet parking can really add up.

Parking charges are even showing up in other destinations you might not expect. For example, the Aloft Nashville West End charges $10 per day for self-parking and a whopping $44 per day for valet parking. Similarly, the SpringHill Suites in Bozeman, Montana — a regular hotel right next to a highway and not in a busy area — charges $12 per day for self-parking. A reader also recently pointed out that parking at the Courtyard Portland Downtown/Convention Center used to be free but is now $43 per night (for valet).

Lest you think it’s only Marriott properties, at the Millennium Hilton New York One U.N. Plaza in Manhattan, valet parking is $100 per night!

Like resort fees, these charges seem like another way to nickel-and-dime travelers.

Lounge access and perks

The Club SFO Lounge — The Club SFO lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

I was surprised to learn that a lounge I called one of the best Priority Pass lounges in the country charged for showers. The Club at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is fantastic, but if you want to use one of its showers, it will now cost you $25.

While this trend isn’t yet widespread, you can bet that it will eventually show up at other lounges.

Priority Pass has some 1,700 lounges in 145 countries, and entry to one of its lounges generally requires showing your boarding pass and Priority Pass card to a staff member. Now we are seeing a new trend: Some more popular lounges are charging a fee to preregister your visit. The Club SFO is one of them, charging $9 for a reserved spot.

This is the system at more than 100 lounges, but in London, it’s especially bad, as few people who don’t reserve a spot are allowed in lately.

Some lounges also charge to use their nap rooms. I’ve paid to spend a few hours sleeping in KLM’s flagship Crown Lounge in Amsterdam several times over the years. You’ll pay about 40 euros ($45) for two hours of sleeping time in one of the lounge’s roomettes.

KLM Crown Lounge sleeping room. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Of course, the major changes are the new entry restrictions for some of the major airline- and credit card-affiliated lounges. Many lounges no longer allow free guests at all or severely limit the number of guests.

Those with Delta or select American Express cards, for example, used to have unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs but are now limited to 10 to 15 visits per year (unless they make $75,000 in purchases with their cards). You also have to pay for guests under most circumstances.

Bottom line

Many things that used to be free in the travel world are slowly going away. It frustrates me to see consumers getting hit with more and more fees and “enhancements.”

But TPG contributor Ross Binkley reminded me that it’s not all bad news. Most major U.S. airlines no longer charge for changes and cancellations, and elite status still unlocks many of the formerly free benefits mentioned above.

I’ll take good news where I can find it. Still, fees for just about everything (including concert tickets and purchases made with a credit card) are cropping up all over the place, and I expect it’s only going to get worse from here.

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