US Senate panel steps up probe into airline fees

A U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday said it was stepping up its investigation into billions of dollars in annual airline fees for baggage, seat selection, ticket changes and other services, demanding airline responses by next month.<br/>Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, first wrote CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines in November seeking answers. In new letters, Blumenthal said the limited responses to date from the air carriers "raise serious questions" about the willingness of carriers to cooperate. He demanded airlines provide outstanding information and records sought by April 2 or the committee will "consider alternate means to obtain information needed to conduct its inquiry." The airlines declined to comment or did not comment on the letter. Blumenthal noted that between 2018 and 2022, total revenue across major US airlines from baggage fees increased from $4.9b to $6.8b. He cited a report by a travel consultancy that found that eight leading US airlines in 2022 collected an estimated $4.2b in fees for seat selection. Last month, United, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways all hiked checked baggage fees for customers traveling in North America, the first time in four years.<br/>