Dem senator to airlines: Cut bag fees if you require smaller carry-ons

A Democratic senator is pushing airlines to lower the cost of checking luggage to offset a proposal to shrink the allowed size of passengers’ carry-on luggage.  

The International Air Transport Association called last week for airlines to limit the size of bags that are carried onto flights to a size of 21.5 by 13.5 by 7.5 inches. Most U.S. airlines currently allow bags that are up to 22 by 14 by 9 inches. 

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said Monday that airlines should charge passengers less money to check their luggage if they are going to go forward with requiring smaller carry-on bags. 

{mosads}”As both a U.S. Senator and consumer I’m obviously concerned this proposal to cut the size of allowable carry-ons is a gimmick so airlines can keep padding those bag profits,” Menendez said in a statement.  “I’m telling U.S. airlines that if our luggage has to go on a diet, the result cannot be another airline-industry profit binge.  We already have less seat-space, less leg-room, fewer options and higher costs – we have to stand up for consumers and say “no” to the airline industry.”

Menendez is a member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. 

Supporters of requiring smaller carry-on luggage have argued that the restriction would speed up the board process for flights. 

“The development of an agreed optimal cabin bag size will bring common sense and order to the problem of differing sizes for carry-on bags,” Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, said in a statement after the proposal was released last week. 

“We know the current situation can be frustrating for passengers,” Windmuller continued. “This work will help to iron out inconsistencies and lead to an improved passenger experience.” 

Customer groups have attributed the increase in the amount of carry-on luggage to fees for checked baggage implemented by almost every U.S. airline in recent years. 

They say passengers are carrying on bags that they would have previously checked to their destinations to avoid the fees. 

Airlines have defended the bag fees, saying it allows passengers to choose how much luggage they want to bring on flights. 

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said that airlines collected $3.5 billion from baggage fees in 2014.

Menendez’s office said Monday that the proposal to require smaller carry-ons “would trim the size of allowable carry-on luggage by over 20 percent for some American airlines.”