WASHINGTON D.C. – A U.S. Senate panel has announced plans to launch an investigation into the fees charged by American airlines for baggage, seat selection, ticket changes, and other services. The investigation aims to shed light on these charges and demand justifications from the CEOs of five major carriers.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, expressed concern over the lack of transparency in these fees, which generate billions of dollars in annual revenue for airlines. He emphasized that such fees are often hidden and confusing to consumers.
Senator Blumenthal wrote letters to the chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, requesting a detailed breakdown of the amount collected from each fee, the reasoning behind them, and the costs associated with providing each service.
According to Senator Blumenthal, revenues from baggage fees for major U.S. airlines increased from $4.9 billion in 2018 to $6.8 billion in 2022. Furthermore, a travel consultancy report revealed that leading U.S. airlines collected approximately $4.2 billion in seat selection fees in 2022.
Highlighting the issue, Blumenthal said, U.S. airlines increasingly charge ancillary fees that obscure the actual cost of air travel. He further explained that these itemized fees are often not disclosed to customers until well into the ticket purchasing process or after the ticket has been purchased, making it difficult for customers to know the true total cost of a ticket and compare prices.
The Senate investigation seeks to address these concerns and ensure transparency in airline fees. However, Airlines for America, an industry trade group representing American, Delta, and United, did not respond to requests for comment, while Spirit and Frontier have also yet to respond.
It is worth noting that aviation legislation, which includes directives to prevent airlines from charging families with young children extra to sit together, has faced obstacles in Congress.
As the Senate panel delves into the investigation, travelers and industry stakeholders alike eagerly await the outcome, hoping for increased clarity and transparency surrounding these charges.
