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Executives from five major U.S. airlines faced scrutiny in a Senate subcommittee hearing over rising add-on fees, which have led to passengers paying more than the base ticket price. The hearing included testimonies from leaders of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. These airlines defended their fee structures as transparent and beneficial for providing customers with more options.
Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed dissatisfaction with these fees, stating that travelers feel like "piggybanks to be shaken down." A report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations criticized airlines for obscuring the total cost of travel through additional fees.
Airlines argue that their pricing strategies offer more choices and lower prices. Stephen Johnson of American Airlines testified that not every passenger wants the same thing. Andrew Nocella of United Airlines stated that they provide "transparent, readily accessible pricing information."
