Senate Bill Aims to Block Airline Baggage Fees

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FOX News:

Airlines would no longer be allowed to charge passengers for their first checked bag under a bill being introduced in Congress ahead of the holiday travel season.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., announced the legislation Tuesday, describing it as way spare passengers from "unfair fees" while encouraging them to ease up a bit on the carry-on bags.

"Air travel can be a stressful experience for many reasons, but unfair fees for basic amenities should not be one of them," Landrieu said in a statement. "Passengers have been nickeled and dimed for far too long and something has to be done about it."

Under the proposal, passengers would be allowed one checked and one carry-on bag free of charge, provided the bags are within the size limits. Airlines would also be required to provide free access to drinking water and toilets -- the senator wants to impose penalties on any airline that fails to comply.

Really? This is what our Senate needs to be dealing with? I hate baggage fees as much at the next person, but the cost will just shift to all tickets or some other fee. We still have a few airlines left trying to compete (although it is getting fewer each year), let them compete. One airline seems to make a big deal of the situation and seems to be doing pretty well.