WASHINGTON — If you're hoping to redeem your frequent-flier miles for a free airline ticket to Disney World or Los Angeles this summer, it may be difficult. Some airlines are already telling customers they don't have any available "award" seats to those destinations until 2007.

If you want to snuggle with a pillow or blanket on your flight, you can. But you may have to pay a little extra for that comfort.

And if you rent a car while on vacation, make sure you plan to drive more than 75 miles, otherwise you may be charged a $9.50 fee.

This is the new world of travel — restrictions, fees and, for many travelers, frustrations.

In recent years, the travel industry seems to have transformed itself into a world of extra fees. The days of paying one price for a flight, hotel room and a rental car seem to be quickly passing. Instead, in an effort to boost their revenue and cover costs, airlines, hotels and car-rental companies have adopted the banking industry's a la carte model of charging for every part of every transaction.

As you prepare for summer travel, know that you are not alone. About 147 million passengers will be flying domestically and internationally this year, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates. That compares with about 139 million last year.

Here, then, are a few recent industry updates and trends — not only about fees, but also about logistics — that can help reduce travel-related stress before you even leave the house.

PLANNING

If you book a flight yourself, keep in mind that many major airlines charge anywhere from $10 to $15 if you call their toll-free reservation number or if you go to the airport and purchase your ticket from an agent. The airlines — particularly legacy carriers such as American, United, Delta and US Airways — encourage travelers to book flights on their Web sites to help reduce labor and ticket-processing costs.

It's not only the airlines charging you just to make a reservation. Because the carriers no longer pay commissions to travel agents, most travel agencies charge between $20 and $50 to process a round-trip ticket. "The consumer now takes on the added expense for the services rendered," says Richard Copeland, immediate past president of the American Society of Travel Agents.

FREQUENT-FLIER MILES

Domestic carriers are flying fewer U.S. flights and are using smaller planes to temper high fuel prices. This summer, the airlines will cut their domestic capacity on average by about 2.6 percent, according to the Air Transport Association, the Washington group that represents the nation's largest airlines. That reduction means that a 120-seat aircraft that was already nearly sold out last summer would fill up three more seats this summer. That translates into fewer seats even for some of the airline's best customers.

Airlines don't reveal how many seats they make available as part of frequent-flier redemptions. That's one of the biggest gripes among frequent fliers because it means there is no way to compare the carriers and their redemption process.

With the aircraft seat reduction, frequent-flier experts are already hearing from travelers who are finding it difficult to nab seats to popular destinations.

Some airlines are finding seats for their loyal customers, but many require that the fliers double the amount of miles they redeem to get the seat. To get around the difficulty of finding free trips, Tim Winship, publisher of Frequentflier.com (whose monthly column appears in this section), recommends searching for trips outside the United States. That's because while many airlines have cut back on the number of flights domestically, they have expanded the number of often more expensive international flights. Winship also recommends looking at alternative airports — for instance, Chicago's Midway International rather than O'Hare International. He also suggests off-peak travel times, such as midafternoon flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

BOARDING PASSES

Technology has made some parts of flying more convenient. Most airlines allow passengers to print their boarding passes from their computers 24 hours before their departure. Also, in addition to picking up a boarding pass at the airport ticket counter, many airlines also enable travelers to print their boarding passes from kiosks in airport terminals or some hotel lobbies. Travelers flying internationally, those who require additional security screening or those who have special needs have to check in at the ticket counter, depending on the airline.

CHECKING BAGS

Several airlines — including United, American and Northwest — are charging customers $2 to check their luggage at the curb outside the terminal. That's separate from the $1- to $2-per-bag tip that passengers also should give each skycap. Unless you have oversize or extra bags, most carriers allow passengers to check their bags at their ticket counter for free.

IN-FLIGHT

If you are in coach and want a more comfortable seat, it may cost you a little extra, depending on the airline. Recently, Northwest Airlines became the first carrier to begin charging passengers $15 for some of its aisle and exit-row seats.

Last fall, fare expert Terry Trippler, of Cheapseats.com, was one of the first industry analysts to predict that airlines would begin charging for sodas and exit-row seats. Now he predicts other carriers to begin adopting such additional fees. Trippler says traditional, legacy carriers will soon begin charging passengers a fee for checking their bags, even if passengers check their bags at the ticket counter. Trippler also thinks airlines will begin charging for sodas and fruit juice. And he expects other airlines to begin charging for aisle and exit-row seats, as well.

"Passengers are getting to the point where they say, 'This is the way it is,' " he said. "Department stores used to wrap gifts for free. Banks charge to use ATMs, and furniture stores charge to deliver. The airlines are just a little late to the party."

If you want a meal, or a cold sandwich, chances are you will have to pay between $2 and $5. And if you want to catch the in-flight movie, you may be better off bringing your own headphones, otherwise you'll probably have to pay $2 to $5 if you're flying Delta, American, Continental, US Airways or Northwest.

The airlines say many of the costs are added to cover items that might otherwise be taken off a flight because of increased costs.

"It's a balance. We are responding to the increasing cost pressures from fuel and government taxes and fees, and balancing that with customer requests for simple and less-expensive travel," says Gina Laughlin, Delta Air Lines spokeswoman. Delta is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Northwest Airlines spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the airline began testing a fee for exit-row and aisle seats after many last-minute passengers — who often pay higher fares — complained that the preferred seats are not available when they book their flights, the good seats having been snapped up by leisure travelers paying discounted fares booked sometimes months in advance. Ebenhoch said the practice would generate at least $15 million in annual revenue and was expected to grow.

CAR RENTAL

Car-rental companies charge numerous fees, most of them government taxes. But there are others. Most renters already know the best way to avoid having to pay a high gas charge.

Budget Rent A Car charges an additional $9.50 on all vehicles driven fewer than 75 miles.

HOTEL

It's not just the airline and car-rental industries adding charges. Since 2003, some full-service hotel properties have begun charging $2.50 to $5 for mini-bar restocking and $1 to $5 for guests who use the in-room safe. Some hotels with spa facilities have been known to automatically charge patrons regardless of whether the facilities were used.