Airlines have racked up billions of dollars in surcharges over the past five years, CNN reports. Carriers charge you extra for seat selection or baggage handling. According to a US Senate subcommittee report, some airlines are even offering bonuses to employees to avoid paying extra.
According to the subcommittee's findings, between 2018 and 2023, five US airlines earned more than $12 billion from seat selection fees alone. Until recently, these “additional services” were included in the price of the plane ticket.
United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and American Airlines were mentioned in the study. Fees for extra seats were as high as $319.
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“The price of seats in airplanes is increasing more and more,” we read in the report of the sub-commission. “These five airlines charged passengers for extra legroom, aisles and windows, and even for seat selection in advance, forcing parents of young children to pay more.”
CNN notes that earlier this month, the Department of Transportation announced it would begin implementing new rules requiring airlines to automatically issue refunds for flight cancellations or significant delays.
Bonuses for detecting fare evasion
So-called low-cost airlines are the most strict in enforcing surcharges.
U.S. carriers Frontier and Spirit have set aside $26 million in bonuses for their employees in 2022 and 2023 for “additional screening of passengers who allegedly violated applicable regulations.” “Such people were often forced to pay baggage fees or miss their flights,” the report said.
“A Frontier employee can make up to $10 for each checked bag,” reports CNN.
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