Delta drops fee for tickets bought on phone and at airports

Delta will drop the fee for US consumers who buy tickets over the phone or at a ticket counter to make things simpler for customers, said incoming Delta President Glen Hauenstein on Thursday. The phone fee was $25 and the fee for a ticket bought at an airport or other ticket counter was $35. Most other major US 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. The major carriers don't charge extra for online ticket purchases. Discount carrier Spirit Airlines does charge fees of $9 to $18 each way for tickets bought online or over the phone.<br/>