Spirit Airlines’ latest $45 fee for carry-on luggage was the final straw for New York Democrat Senator Charles Schumer, who put his foot down and made a move against the carrier’s decision. Schumer called on the Treasury Department to rule carry-ons as a necessity item for travel and make the luggage exempt from separate fees outside the ticket price. The senator felt the extra cost was a “slap in the face to travelers.”
Last week, Spirit became the first carrier anywhere in the world to charge for overhead luggage, a move that met heated reactions from passengers as a strong advancement towards the increasingly limited services travelers get for free (last week we reported that Ryanair just began charging for use of its in-flight toilets). Perhaps Schumer’s rage will force the airline industry to rethink its nickel-and-dime strategy.
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