Roy Jones is a Fayetteville resident who feels the pain when it comes to fees and fares for holiday flights.

"Our youngest daughter is four years old, and she has to have a full seat, which is $115 to $300 round-trip. So, that's $300 times five...it kinda gets pricey," Jones says.

A lot of times, the price you expect to pay and what you actually fork over for a flight are miles apart.
 
"Those are the taxes and surcharges. That is just the way it is," travel agent Sarah Gladstone says.

But 2009 has been the year for extra fees and surcharges, like the fuel surcharge imposed in September and the newest peak holiday surcharges.

"I don't think it will ever go away. I think it's the new norm and they're going to make money wherever they can," Gladstone says.

That means people are paying more, despite the days they fly. But there are some dates to avoid if you have to head to the skies.

"Traditionally if a holiday is Thursday, the worst time to fly is the Wednesday before and the Sunday after. Those are peak days, and you should avoid those. The best days are actually on the holiday, believe it or not," Gladstone says.

To avoid price hikes, Roy Jones, like everyone else we spoke to in Fayetteville, plans to stick to the highway over the holidays.