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Congressman Cohen Questions Experts on Air Travel Experience

March 3, 2020

Fair Fees Act would prohibit airlines from charging fees that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs of the services provided

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today questioned expert witnesses at a Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on "The Airline Passenger Experience: What It Is and What It Can Be."

Congressman Cohen noted that the flying public is exasperated at paying unreasonable fees for checked baggage and reservation changes for which U.S. airlines charged a record $7.6 billion in 2018. He said his bill, H.R. 5195, the Fair Fees Act, would prohibit airlines from charging fees, including cancellation, change, and bag fees, that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs of the services actually provided.

Witness William J. McGee, an aviation consultant with Consumer Reports, noted that airlines' fees lack transparency and are seemingly arbitrary, which is why Consumer Reports supports the Fair Fees Act.

See Congressman Cohen's exchange with the witnesses here.

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