Real People: $10-$25

Talk isn't cheap at fee-hiking airlines these days and booking over the phone or at a booth will tack roughly $15 onto your ticket's total. Delta has the most gall, having increased the charge from $20 to $25 in April. It costs $20 to book through a representative at American Airlines, and US Airways charges $15—the same as discount airline JetBlue. And don't expect to skip the live-agent fee at major airfare web sites. Travelocity, for example, charges $25 for over-the-phone transactions; booking your flight online costs $5 to $15. To avoid the fee, book on the specific airline's web site.