According to sources, American Airlines has joined Southwest and United in offering passengers willing to pay for it the privilege of boarding first.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel has reported on its Web site on Saturday that passengers pay from $9 to $19 for American's "boarding and flexibility package." The package includes allowing passengers to leave on an earlier flight at no charge if space is available and a $75 credit against fees if passengers have to change reservations.

American spokeswoman Martha Pantin told the newspaper in an e-mail, "From customer feedback, we understand that those are services that they are willing to pay for and value. We are seeing customers choose the option more and more each week."

It was also reported that U. S. airlines have been moving farther toward collecting fees for everything from checked baggage to on-board meals. In the past two years, total revenues from fees totaled $7.9 billion.

Passengers can "game the system a little bit" to get certain things without paying, Matt Daimler of Seatguru. com has said. He further added that, for example, most airlines board back-to-front, so people who want to get on early should reserve seats in the back of the plane.

Passengers were urged by him to think about whether the fee brings real benefit before they pay one. (With Inputs from Agencies)