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By Mike Mitchell |
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The legislation
comes after Spirit Airlines announced last week that it would begin
charging customers a whopping $45 for carry-on luggage. The policy could
spur other airlines to follow suit and impose a similar fee. The
senators’ legislation is designed to rein in this new practice and
restore basic fairness to airline travel. |
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“Airline passengers have always had the right to bring a carry-on bag
without having to worry about getting nickel and dimed by an airline
company,” Senator Schumer said. “This latest fee crosses the line and is
a slap in the face to travelers. Our legislation will rein in the
airlines and keep air travelers from being gouged every time they board
a plane.”
Senator Menendez said: “The way this is going, one day they’ll want to
make your seat’s recline coin operated. It seems that air carriers are
crossing a line that will end of pricing middle class families right out
of being able to fly, and that’s not right. While airlines have a right
to set prices, families should have the right to bring a change of
clothes with them and not be gouged for it.” “Carry-on luggage is where people keep items essential to their health, work, and safety like laptop computers, medications, food to eat on the plane, baby formula, eye glasses and other items that need to be kept close at hand. These are personal items that airline passengers should not be charged to keep with them in the cabin. When we tried to include such a ban in the FAA Reauthorization last month, we were blocked and told it was improbable airlines would ever charge for carry-on bags. Well, so far one airline has announced their intention to make fees for carry-on bags a reality. We cannot allow these flood gates to open.” said Senator Cardin, who has also authored another legislation that would impose an outright ban on carry-on fees. |
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“As
airlines continue to pile on fees for even the most basic services, the
rights of passengers are being left at the curb,” said Senator
Lautenberg. “Airlines are
taking advantage of a tax loophole and reaping financial benefits at the
expense of travelers. It’s
time to say enough is enough.
Let's put an end to passenger mistreatment and restore consumer
protections.”
“In airline
travel, ‘service with a smile’ has been replaced by ‘service with a cash
register,’” said Senator Klobuchar.
“Charging
consumers for overhead carry-on luggage is skyway robbery,” said Senator
Shaheen. “It is outrageous
that American families, who are already feeling the squeeze in this
economy, are now being punished for something that is completely beyond
their control. I am hopeful
this legislation will prevent airlines from forcing more unreasonable
and unfair fees onto their customers.”
During this tough
economic time, the airline industry has sought to keep ticket prices low
while maintaining their bottom line by adding supplemental fees to
airline travel. In the past year, some airlines have added fees for
checked baggage, extra legroom, seat assignments, peanuts, and event
trips to the bathroom. For the most part, passengers have begrudgingly
accepted these new fees. But the latest fee that the airline industry is
seeking to impose on travelers breaks with a longstanding practice of
allowing travelers to carry luggage onto the plane for free.
Since the
inception of commercial air travel, customers have always been given the
opportunity to bring one carry-on bag with them to store in the overhead
compartment without fear of being slapped with an additional fee.
Carry-on luggage is particularly essential for weekend travelers, day
trippers, and overnighters. The new fee will greatly add to the cost of
travel for both business and leisure travelers. Families with children
will also be hurt, as parents almost always need a carry-on item in
order to store vital items like medicine, baby formula, or diapers.
The timing of the
fee will also likely impact those trying to take their family on a
summer vacation.
The senators’
legislation would confront this proposed fee by designating carry-on
baggage as a necessity for air travelers. Airlines currently pay a
7.5-cent tax to the federal government for every dollar they collect in
fares, but no tax is imposed on fees collected for non-essential
services. |
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