Airlines have earned billions of dollars in additional fees in the last five years, CNN writes. Carriers make you pay extra for choosing a seat or transporting luggage. Some airlines even paid employees bonuses to identify customers trying to avoid surcharges, according to a U.S. Senate subcommittee report.
According to the findings of the subcommittee in 2018-2023 Five U.S. airlines earned more than $12 billion in seat selection fees alone. Until recently, these now “additional services” were included in the price of an airline ticket.
The following airlines are mentioned in the study: United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and American Airlines. Charges for extra legroom seats were as high as $319.
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“Airplane seat fees are getting higher and higher” – we read in the release from the subcommittee's report. “These five airlines charged passengers for extra legroom, aisle and window seats, and even for choosing a specific seat in advance, which forced parents with small children to incur further costs “- we read.
CNN reminds that at the beginning of the month the Department of Transportation USA announced that it will begin enforcing new rules that require airlines to provide automatic refunds for flight cancellations or significant delays.
Bonuses for detecting fare evasion
The so-called low-cost airlines are the most stringent in enforcing additional fees.
American carriers Frontier and Spirit have allocated as much as $26 million for bonuses for their staff in 2022 and 2023 for “additional checks on passengers who allegedly circumvented the applicable rules”. “Such people were often forced to pay baggage fees or missed their flight,” the report said.
“A Frontier employee could earn up to $10 for each bag inspected,” CNN points out.
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