New York Senator Charles Schumer says five major airlines have agreed they aren’t going to charge passengers for their carry-on bags.
Schumer said Sunday he’s gotten commitments from American, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Air, the AP reported.
He reached out to the companies’ CEOs after Spirit Airlines recently announced it would charge up to $45 for passengers who bring a bag on board and put it in the overhead compartment.
Spirit’s announcement has outraged many, including COLlive.com readers.
“Spirit has corrupted the airline industry & have lost many a bag that was paid for even in check in,” one of them wrote. “What they are doing is going to be detrimental to them we will see it happen soon.”
Yet, another reader called it “great news,” pointing out that “I for one am tired of going on a flight with my diaper bag and my husband’s Tefillin bag and having nowhere to put them because everyone decided to not pay the $25.00 or $15.00 for luggage.”
The Democratic senator says he hopes other carriers will follow. He says he plans to meet with the leadership of Spirit Airlines in the coming week.
Add-on fees have been an important source of revenue for airlines since oil prices soared to an all-time high of $147 a barrel in July 2008. Those fees became a mainstay for airlines’ bottom lines even after fuel prices plunged.
Like those who responder to the one who called it “great news” Now she’ll have to pay $45 if her husband doesn’t want the Tefillin by his feet.
why are we posting this agian?
There is no limit to what the government should be doing according to this clown.
Even saving us from those evil airlines is their job!
Funny thing is that the airlines that “agreed” with Clown Schumer were never thinking to to charge for carry-on bags in the first place.
Another sick example of how we are going down the drain.
See you in november Clown Schumer.
..yet another reason as to why virgin america remains number one.
im sorry for whoever feels differently about this, but regardless of who decided to push for this, or how it was done, i am really glad it was. thank you for putting some sense in the airlines.
Its lovely to see Schumer standing up as the white knight in shining armor saving us from the evil airlines, a bussiness that (shock shock) wants to make a profit. Nevermind the high rate of fuel and government fees (thanks Mr. Schumer) that airlines are facing. And never mind that many people depend on Spirit Airlines for their nine dollars to Florida tickets etc etc… Let Mr. Schumer explain why he voted for Healthcare which is going to cost the average American a nutty amount of money… Let him explain the taxes in NY, one of the highest in all… Read more »
I think we should make a competition for the best anti-paying-for-overhead-luggage posters. Maybe instead of ahavas-yisroel or give-tzedakah posters at the Lag Bo’amer parade, we should have airline posters being held by kids. This is a problem that may lead to a serious casualties. People may start robbing each other so that they can have enough money to pay for the airfare… Has anyone ever thought of that?