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It makes perfect sense--those airlines have a website with no additional fee.

Verizon was charging for you to use the website but not charging if you went in to the store and tied up the service reps. Nonsense.

How about a discount for buying it in a way that costs the vendor less?

If they raise the prices first, it even works out the same!

They charge you more if you use a method which costs them more. Makes perfect sense.

What's insane is companies who charge you more for buying online and less for buying in person. There, they charge you more money for something that costs them less. This is completely stupid and makes me hate doing business with them.

But paying extra for tying up a paid human for a substantial amount of time? Absolutely reasonable.