Senate panel rips airlines over rising ‘junk’ fees

The Epoch Times

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Airlines Charge Billions in ‘Junk Fees’ to Boost Revenue: Senate Report

As millions of Americans prepare for record-setting air travel this holiday season, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) released a report on Nov. 26 detailing the growing reliance of major airlines on ancillary fees. These charges, sometimes referred to as “junk fees,” have become a vital revenue stream for the airlines while travelers “confront more and increasingly complex fees and fewer options for avoiding them,” accord…

Fast Company

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Airlines redesigned the way you choose your seat—and raked in $12.4 billion in the process

Want extra legroom on your flight? There’s a fee for that. Care for a window or aisle seat? Pay up. There once was a time when airlines didn’t charge extra for certain seats, but over the past two decades, so-called ancillary fees have become a regular—and costly—part of modern air travel. In fact, they’ve been designed right into the buying process. And soon, airline executives will answer for that. A new Senate report released this month found…

Straight Arrow News

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Senate report criticizes airline 'junk fees' totaling billions of dollars

Airlines are raking in billions of dollars in "junk-fees," according to a new report. The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations centers on extra charges people pay when they fly, like checking bags or choosing their seat. It found from 2018 to 2023, five U.S. airlines made more than $12 billion on seat selection fees alone. The report said for an extra legroom seat, United Airlines charged as much as $319, Spirit Airlin…

Hartford Courant

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‘Airlines exploiting passengers with sky high junk fees,’ CT senator’s investigation finds

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., issued a report Tuesday criticizing airlines for their reliance on “unpredictable” ancillary fees related to seat assignments and baggage policies that have resulted in billions of dollars in revenue for major companies. As chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal’s report detailed how five airlines profit through these fees, alleging they do so at the expense of travelers by unb…

La Presse

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During his press review Wednesday morning, Paul Arcand discusses the strategies of airlines to charge travelers even more fees.

Time Magazine

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Senate Report Blasts Airlines Over ‘Junk’ Fees: What to Know

Why is flying so expensive these days? A Democratic congressional panel blames “junk” fees. In a 55-page report, the majority staff of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released on Tuesday its findings after a year-long inquiry into five U.S. airlines’ ancillary fees, which the report said have led to higher costs and worse experiences for consumers and, in some cases, tax avoidance by the airlines. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”tr…