Two Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would put a stop to what they say are efforts by airlines to gouge passengers for extra fees and charges when they fly.
The Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act, or the FAIR Act, is a reaction to the rising fees faced by passengers, at a time when billions of dollars are being collected.
The lead sponsor of the bill, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., says American Airlines made $19.4 billion in profits last year, and that through September 2015, airlines had charged passengers more than $5 billion in fees for things like changing and cancelling flights, and for baggage.
“In recent years, fees and ticket prices have gone up despite the fact that gas prices and airline choices have gone down,” Markey said. “Airlines should not be allowed to overcharge captive passengers just because they need to change their flight or have to check a couple of bags.”
“There is no justification for charging consumers a $200 fee to resell a $150 ticket that was cancelled well in advance,” he added. “The FAIR Fees Act puts a stop to this fee gouging and will help ensure passengers are flying the fair and friendly skies.”
Under his bill, airlines would be prohibited from imposing fees, such as fees for flight changes or baggage, that aren’t “reasonable and proportional” to the costs of those services.”
It would also instruct the Department of Transportation to review other airline fees.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is a cosponsor of the bill, and says it would help create family-friendly flights for parents who often struggle to sit next to their own kids without being charged.
“A parent who wants to sit with his young child, a customer who wants to check or carry on a bag, or have Wi-Fi, or a traveler who needs to change or cancel a reservation should not incur exorbitant, unnecessary fees on the whim of an airline,” he said.
Read the bill here:
