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As the holiday travel season approaches, a recent report by a Senate subcommittee has sparked debate over the fee structures of major US airlines. The report, released by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Chair of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), accuses airlines of imposing "junk fees" on passengers.
The investigation targeted three major carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—and two low-cost carriers—Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. According to Blumenthal, these airlines are exploiting passengers with additional charges and their representatives have been summoned to testify before the PSI.
One focus of the report is baggage policy enforcement. It highlights that Frontier and Spirit incentivize gate agents to enforce these policies, reportedly paying $26 million between 2022 and 2023 for this purpose. Frontier personnel can earn up to $10 for each bag checked at the gate.
