The chief executive officer of /*Spirit Airlines*/, which will begin imposing fees for carry-on bags starting in August, got an earful from lawmakers on Wednesday on /*Capitol Hill*/.
"Did you realize more by unbundling and charging them a little bit less on the fare but a lot more for the bag?" Congressman /*Peter Defazio*/ (D-Ore.) asked Spirit President Ben Baldanza.
Airlines collected $7.8 billion last year in ancillary fees, most of which used to be included in the price of a ticket.
In a new report, the /*Government Accountability Office*/ insists many of those fees are hidden.
"I would like to see there be a set fee for a ticket and you know what you're getting with that and you don't have all these hidden costs," said Teresa Lusby, an airline passenger.
The /*U.S. Department of Transportation*/ is making several recommendations so that all fees are disclosed to the customer up front.
They include:
- Clear, full-price advertising.
- Reimbursement of baggage fees when bags are misplaced or lost.
- Provide travel booking services with accurate information on fees and costs.
- Provide pricing that includes all taxes and extra fees so customers will know what they're purchasing.