surcharges

Tag Archives for surcharges.

New York City Will Allow Restaurant Covid Surcharges, Defrauding Customers And Employees

by Gary Leff on September 18, 2020

Sep 18 2020

New York City’s council passed a law allowing restaurants to add up to a 10% ‘Covid surcharge’ for eat-in dining. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign it. It is stupid. Restaurants can already raise their prices.

This accomplishes two things: it lets restaurants charge a higher price than they advertise on their menus, and since customers are willing to pay a certain amount for their meal the surcharge reduces tips. It shifts income from restaurant workers to owners.

Dangerous New Practice: Hotel Adding 3% To Bill For Accepting Credit Cards

by Gary Leff on June 20, 2020

Jun 20 2020

The Home2 Suites by Hilton at the Kansas City airport adds 3% to customer bills for ‘credit card processing’ though apparently when pushed they’ll remove the fee.

The truth is that it’s cheaper to accept credit cards than other payment methods, and it’s an underhanded tactic no different than a resort fee to impose a hidden add-on on customers. Why should a customer have to cover a business’s cost to accept their money, on top of the cost of the product they’re buying?

COVID Surcharges Have Started In Las Vegas

by Gary Leff on June 10, 2020

Jun 10 2020

As properties re-open in Las Vegas it looks like there’s a new opportunity for a surprise ‘gotcha,’ a COVID-19 surcharge. When destinations around the world that have re-opened, or that are looking to, are practically paying you to come, we’re starting to see extra charges not listed on the menu show up on bills in Las Vegas.

And yes – it’s identified as a “COVID-19 crisis” surcharge.

Dear Hyatt, Please Don’t Impose Coronavirus Surcharges On Hotel Stays

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2020

May 22 2020

This is a horrible idea, that undermines trust in the brand completely. It’s trust in the brand that drives value for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. They really risk undermining their business.

If a surcharge is needed to cover the cost of making a hotel safe from SARS-CoV-2, then it’s not part of a hotel’s basic practices. the room rate doesn’t buy a safe stay. That communication is downright scary. And hiding the ball on price is untrustworthy and what’s needed to bring travelers back more than ever is trust.

British Airways Visa Takes On Award Surcharges With New Statement Credit

by Gary Leff on August 27, 2019

Aug 27 2019

Chase has announced two major changes to the British Airways Visa, without taking anything away: faster earning and taking on high taxes and fees on awards. The important takeaway is that the card will let you redeem British Airways Avios with less of a blow from the carrier’s surcharges. As a result, the card can add value even when you’re redeeming transferred Chase or American Express points.