Key Quotes from Senate Hearing on Airline Junk Fees
On December 4, 2024, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations questioned top executives from American, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit on their hidden junk fees, their use of personally identifiable information in setting prices, their family seating fees, and their participation in other anti-consumer, anti-competition, and anti-transparency actions.
“Why [is it] so hard for you all to be transparent? Americans don’t generally love their flying experience.” Senator Hassan
“But you guys do appreciate that flying on your airlines is a disaster. Don’t you? I’m slightly amazed by the general attitude of all of you here. Flying on your airlines is horrible. It’s a terrible experience. I say this as a father of three young children. But I can tell you…no one enjoys flying on your airlines. It’s a disaster. You charge people fees that they know nothing about.” Senator Hawley
“It’s not something I am able to commit to.” Frontier’s Senior VP and Chief Commercial Officer Robert Schroeter in response to Senator Blumenthal asking if he would commit to ending Frontier’s notorious bag bounty program.
“The frustration in that passenger’s voice is felt every day by countless passengers arriving at the gate with basically no choice.” Senator Blumenthal
“Each of your airlines unfortunately engaged in some measure of stonewalling our investigation” Senator Blumenthal
“There is bipartisan frustration and even fury about current practices.” Senator Blumenthal
On whether the airlines are willing to commit to drop their anti-consumer, anti-transparency lawsuit against the DOT's basic transparency in ancillary fees rule
Delta Air Lines EVP Chief External Affairs Officer Peter Carter: “I’m not prepared to make that commitment here today.”
American Airlines Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer Steve Johnson: “We won’t”
Frontier Airlines Senior VP and Chief Commercial Officer Robert Schroeter: "I’m not prepared to make that commitment either."
Spirit Airlines EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Matthew Klein: inaudible response
United Airlines EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella: "We’re also not willing.”
On Transparency of Fees and Relation to Cost
“Spirit does not engage in so-called drip pricing. Spirit does not set any price based on an individual’s personally identifiable information.”
“We haven’t calculated it. It’s not a critical calculation for us.” American in response to a question on the relation between fees and the cost of the service.
“On the one hand you are all telling me how smart American consumers are, and they are. And on the other you’re saying they’re not smart enough to understand the dashboard.” Senator Hassan
Use of Personal Information to Determine Prices
“I know Mr. Klein (Spirit) you say that you’re not using the personal information to set the price, but it begs the question why you are asking for the personal information first.” Senator Hassan
“This is all information needed to complete the transaction” Matthew Klein conflating collecting the information at some point in the booking process vs. doing it when the passenger wants to compare ancillary fees
Family Seating
“I’m not familiar with the precise language that you are referring to…We do everything we can” (Delta) on Senator Blumenthal pointing out that Delta’s website includes squishy language striving to put families together but not necessarily on the flight they want.
“Is that a kickback from the swipe fee? Or is the bank giving you extra money in order to entice people with the voodoo miles that you’re giving them? Senator Marshall
