Senator Schumer Not Happy With New United Airlines Overhead Bag Fee
United Airlines has announced that they will begin charging a fee for carry-on luggage stored in the overhead bins. New York State Senator Chuck Schumer is not happy with the announcement of the new fee, and feels that other airlines may follow United's lead. This will lead to even more expensive travel for New Yorkers.
Media reports indicate that the new overhead bin fee will lead to an extra $1 billion in annual earnings by 2020. According to a statement Senator Schumer said that this proposed fare structure poses one of the most restrictive policies on airline passengers we have seen in a long time. He says, "The overhead bin is one of the last sacred conveniences of air travel and the fact that United Airlines—and potentially others—plan to take that convenience away unless you pay up is really troubling. Air travelers are sick and tired of being nickel-and-dimed for every bag they carry and every morsel they eat by airlines that are already making sky-high profits. It seems like each year, airlines devise a new, ill-conceived plan to hit consumers and it has simply got to stop."
This new policy forces travelers to either pay the overhead bin fee, or check that bag. Of course there is a fee for that. Right now only United has enacted the new ticketing policy, but Senator Schumer fears others will follow suit.