Senate Panel Investigates US Airline Baggage and Seat Selection Fees

Senate Panel Investigates US Airline Baggage and Seat Selection Fees
Passengers walk through the terminal at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Linthicum, Md., on Nov. 21, 2023, Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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A U.S. Senate panel on Monday announced an investigation into airline fees for baggage, seat selection, ticket changes, and other services, and demanded justifications from the CEOs of five major airline companies.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said these fees—which amount to billions of dollars in annual revenue for airlines—are often hidden from customers or presented in a confusing manner.