Senator Richard Blumenthal, chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, criticized airlines for exploiting passengers with rising fees for luggage, seat assignments, and other services. Blumenthal’s remarks came ahead of a Wednesday hearing titled “The Sky’s the Limit — New Revelations About Airline Fees,” where executives from major airlines, including American, United, Delta, Spirit, and Frontier, are set to testify.
Blumenthal highlighted findings from a recent report showing the five airlines collectively earned $12.4 billion in seat fees alone between 2018 and 2023. He accused carriers of deploying sophisticated algorithms to impose customer-specific pricing, effectively charging higher fares and fees to passengers deemed likely to pay more. Some airlines are reportedly labeling certain charges as nontaxable fees, potentially avoiding federal excise taxes.
Budget airlines, particularly Spirit and Frontier, have drawn significant criticism. The subcommittee report revealed these carriers paid $26 million between 2022 and 2023 to employees tasked with identifying passengers trying to evade baggage fees or carrying oversized items. Frontier employees earn $10 for each checked bag flagged at the gate. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle defended the practice, equating passengers avoiding fees to shoplifting.
Airlines argue that fees offer flexibility and reflect the realities of rising operational costs. Delta executive Peter Carter stated the airline’s aim is to “provide options and value for every customer,” while American Airlines vice chair Stephen Johnson emphasized the need to cater to budget-conscious travelers in a competitive industry.
Blumenthal’s criticism comes as airlines continue to resist federal regulations requiring fee transparency. Earlier this year, carriers sued to block a new Transportation Department rule mandating upfront disclosure of all fees. In 2018, airlines successfully lobbied against bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring baggage and ticket change fees remain reasonable.
The hearing is expected to spotlight growing frustrations among passengers over airline pricing practices and reignite calls for stricter oversight.
