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New bill targets airline bag-check fees
As the height of the holiday travel season nears, one lawmaker is trying to ease the burden on travelers with a new bill that would limit airlines' abilities to charge customers for checking bags. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., this week introduced the Airline Passenger BASICS Act (the "BASIC" stands for Basic Airline Standards to Improve Customer Satisfaction) - which would mandate that airlines allow fliers one free checked bag within certain weight limits per flight, and would… (www.cbsnews.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
If anyone thinks this bill would get them "free" bag travel ,I have a bridge to sell them. If this bill passes the airlines will raise fares to make up for the lost baggage fees, then everyone would pay for the bag fees in the ticket prices, whether they have a checked bag or not. let the people pay for what services they use. I bet the Senator who introduced this bill also voted for Obamacare to get us cheaper health insurance rates.
I prefer to have the fees continue as is because if you look at the numbers airline tickets have actually gone down. Inflation is what you see when the tickets back in the 60s cost 300 for transatlantic, now are $1000. baggage fees are just a way to pay for what you use. why should i pay for the space in the hold for a bag if im only going to have one roller bag?
The free market will work, if left alone. When passengers are tired of the fees, they will find a ride that costs less. If the airlines see they are loosing business because of the fees, the fees will go away. The bag fee actually shifts the cost to the person using the services. If I prefer to travel with a small carry-on that fits under the seat, why should I have to pay as much as the the guy who brings a couple of steamer trunks. He elected to use the baggage system, so let him pay for it.
Senator Landrieu should butt out and let the market take care of this. As long as the airlines post the pricing, there should be no complaints.
Senator Landrieu should butt out and let the market take care of this. As long as the airlines post the pricing, there should be no complaints.
Richard, she was one of the three losers most responsible for the Katrina disaster along with the Governor, Kathleen Blanco, and of course Mr. Chocolate City himself, Mayor Ray Nagin. She has been trying to make herself relevant on something ...just anything since that time with a failure rate of 100%. This is a "slogan bill", long on rhetoric, of little value and often full of unintended consequences that seldom appear before the next election.
Much as I despise the baggage fees (at least on the first bag), the market needs to sort this out. Not a bunch of lame brains in DC. How can they manage airline business when they can't even manage or balance the federal budget?
While I dislike paying the bag fee, I certainly understand the airlines utilizing it (giving passengers some options as oppose to putting a blanket ticket pice increase in effect). However, it seems to be vote pandering when someone in the government is quick to evoke a regulation that imposes a cost on business without considering the impact of tat action. I believe we were founder on the principals of free enterprise, so why is the goverent so quick to write checks others have to cash? BTW, I want to thank Yazoo for providing a source referenced (facts) response on airline revenues. I frequently see comments about historical cost, that do not take inflation into consideration. Good job on providing this information.
While I am pretty much in agreement with the comments here, it is kinda comical to read this comment string. I remember earlier when these fees first started hitting and we were all railing against them in this forum. Now, after a year or so, we get a do nothing, political loser, try and make a name for herself, but late again as usual, and here we are lambasting her & the government and defending the fees.LOL.Gotta Love It.