Arm-Twisted Airlines Agree Not To Charge for Carry-On Luggage
In a rare display of common sense, or at least rare sensitivity to their passengers, five airlines today announced they would not charge passengers for carry-on luggage.
Reuters reported that that American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United Airlines and US Air Airways agreed not to follow Spirit Airlines and charge what many see is an unnecessary and punishing tax on travelers: a fee for carryons.
Apparently the hero of the day is New York Senator Charles Schumer who did some arm twisting during the week to wring the "no-charge" promise from the big five airlines, some of whom are expected to post first-quarter losses because of stubbornly high fuel prices and horrific winter weather.
Airlines pay the federal government about seven and a half cents for every dollar they collect on what the Treasury Department calls "essential air services," including tickets. But the government doesn't tax "non-essential airline services" like carry-on baggage, creating a neat loophole for the airlines in their desperate search for additional revenue.
For anyone who thought peer pressure would cause Spirit Airlines to back down, that isn't going to happen.
Ben Baldanza, Spirit's CEO, said very clearly that his company's decision to charge up to $45.00 for carry-on bags was never dependent on other airlines following suit.
It remains to be seen, however, if Baldanza's still upper lip approach can stand up to the increasing ire of airline passengers who feel very much under-appreciated and overtaxed.
For now Senator Schumer is the peoples' hero and probably the airlines thorn in the side or at least their conscience.
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