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Senator duo working to ban Spirit Airlines carry-on bag fees
The clip of Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza reporting from an overhead luggage bin suddenly makes sense - his plan to introduce carry-on bag fees has reached two senators, who are outraged over the proposal. So outraged in fact, that they are drafting legislation that will prohibit airlines from charging for bringing bags on board.
Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have created the Cardin-Landrieu Free of Fees for Carry-On Act. The bill covers the following:
- Prohibits each air carrier operating in the United States from charging any fees for carry-on baggage that falls within the restrictions imposed by the air carrier with respect to the weight, size, or number of bags;
- Requires each such air carrier to make detailed information about restrictions with respect to the weight, size, and number of carry-on baggage available to passengers before they arrive at the airport for a scheduled departure on the air carrier;
- Requires each such air carrier to make available to the public and to the Secretary a list of all passenger fees and charges (other than airfare) that may be imposed by the air carrier.
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig Apr 14th 2010 12:25PM
There's an easy loophole for the airlines to get around the first bullet point -- just define your carry-on luggage size restriction as 1-inch square and 1 ounce.
Dave Kearns Apr 14th 2010 12:34PM
You would think congress had more important issues to work on. Oh, wait, they do! This (Spirit's announcement) is the ideal situation for market forces to prevail - people who "need" to carry-on will pay. Those that don't, won't. And those who object will fly Southwest.
Stephanie Apr 14th 2010 2:33PM
I am so against Congress meddling in the affairs of a private business like this. In a capitalistic society, companies are generally free to make their own policies (sans safety or environmental situations, to name a couple), and then they either reap the benefits of more business or suffer the loss of that business. It's their choice. And it's also the choice of consumers to choose if they want to pay Spirit's carry-on bag fee or not, by deciding to fly Spirit or a different carrier. It's not like there are no other airlines flying to the same destinations as Spirit. As long as they don't have a monopoly on the route, they have every right to make a business decision to charge or not to charge a bag fee. And Congress should stay out of it. BTW, it's interesting that they are both liberal Senators-more proof that liberals hate the idea of free enterprise.
Nick Apr 14th 2010 3:18PM
Agreed! Last heard, traveling by airplanes and not having to pay for what you carry along was not a fundamental right :)
verdegrrl Apr 14th 2010 3:32PM
I am against government intervention in this fashion. I would however, support rules that require all baggage fees or other value add fees to be shown on the front page along with the basic airfare. This way people can make an apples to apples comparison without having to click through and load a bunch of pages to find out the real cost of the ticket.
jaybee Apr 14th 2010 9:34PM
I'm more liberal than the average bear, but think that legislation like this is inane.
Business decisions, stupid or otherwise, are the right of every company - the market will determine the results.
Congress has no place in this level of micromanagement. Trying to do so will only (further) alienate the public from our Government.
Greg Apr 15th 2010 11:04AM
I'm a Democrat too and I wish that these Senators would stay out of this kind of thing -- it's just the kind of legislation that gives the Democrats a bad name.
If Spirit Airlines wants to make boarding and disembarking faster and wants to eliminate a source of stress and conflict from its flight attendants' and passengers' daily travel, then I don't think it's the government's place to stop them.