A Senate subcommittee criticized major U.S. airlines for charging passengers seat selection fees, totaling $12.4 billion between 2018 and 2023. The fees targeted seats with extra legroom or preferred locations. United Airlines notably earned $1.3 billion from seating fees in 2022, surpassing its baggage fee revenue for the first time since 2018. Although airlines have cut fees for ticket changes, they have introduced fees for more desirable seats. The Biden administration prioritizes eliminating such “junk fees,” and airline executives will testify during a Dec. 4 hearing titled “The Sky’s the Limit—New Revelations About Airline Fees.” Airlines for America, representing major U.S. carriers, argues that air travel is more affordable, suggesting that additional fees offer customers choices. The report also singles out Spirit and Frontier for allegedly incentivizing gate agents to enforce baggage policies, leading to customer fees or missed flights. Both airlines defended their practices as fair and transparent.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/26/senate-report-slams-airlines-for-raking-in-billions-in-seat-fees.html
Category :
Tags:
