Bill would scrap checked baggage fee

Fliers hate baggage fees, and the long lines at airport security screening that are made worse by passengers carrying on more bags than they did in the past.

So just before the the busiest air travel day of the year, Sen. Mary Landrieu has introduced legislation to try to put limits on airlines charging for checking in bags.

Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat, has two different proposals. One would prohibit airlines from charging for the first checked bag.

The other would allow the fees, but raise taxes on airlines that charge for baggage. That proposal would raise the $260 million that the Transportation Security Administration estimates it needs to handle the extra carry-on bags going through the screening process.

The TSA estimates that the number of checked bags has decreased by 26% since 2009, while carry-on bags increased by 87 million in roughly the same time period.

"Many airlines consider checking a bag not to be a right, but a privilege -- and one with a hefty fee attached," said Landrieu. She said her first legislative proposal "will guarantee passengers one checked bag without the financial burden of paying a fee, or the headache of trying to fit everything into a carry-on."

The second, she added, would at least make sure taxpayers are made whole for the stresses more congestion at security places on the system.

Not surprisingly, the airline industry's trade group objects to both proposals.

The Air Transport Association says its own survey shows only one in four passengers now pay a baggage fee, either by carrying-on bags, choosing an airline that won't charge a fee or having the fee waived due to the credit card they use or the frequent flier perks they receive.

Southwest Airlines (LUV, Fortune 500) doesn't charge for bags and has made the lack of a fee part of its marketing campaign. Jet Blue (JBLU) doesn't have any fees on the first bag. On the other extreme, low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE) charges even for carry-on bags.

"Customers do have choice today," said Steve Lott, spokesman for the association. "In terms of fairness, you pay for the services you get. Under what the senator is suggesting, some people would be paying for a service they aren't using."

Airline consultant Michael Boyd said he believes if the fees were banned, fares would rise instead. That could cost customers even more due to the excise tax they pay on fares and not on fees.

"I hate the fees like everyone else," said Boyd. "When American Airlines (AMR, Fortune 500) initiated a bag fee, I thought they were doomed. But the consumer didn't blink an eye, they just got out their wallet."

Airline fined $900,000 for lengthy tarmac delays

The Department of Transportation said Monday it has fined a regional affiliate of American Airlines $900,000 for keeping hundreds of passengers cooped up for hours on planes in Chicago earlier this year, a clear warning to airlines on the eve of the holiday travel season that similar incidents won't be tolerated.

American Eagle Airlines had tarmac delays of more than three hours on 15 flights arriving at O'Hare International Airport on May 29, the department said in a statement. A total of 608 passengers were aboard the delayed flights.

The airline must pay $650,000 of the fine within 30 days, the department said. But up to $250,000 can be credited for refunds, vouchers, and frequent flyer mile awards provided to the passengers on the 15 flights, as well as to passengers on future flights that violate the three-hour rule, the department said.

The department implemented a new rule in April 2010 limiting tarmac delays on domestic flights to three hours. After that, airlines must either return to a gate or provide passengers who wish to leave planes with some other means of safely getting off. Airlines that violate the rule can be fined as much as $27,500 per passenger.

Five Things You Must Know about Airport Security

Here are five things you must know about airport security; this list will help keep things in perspective next time you hear another outrage story, plus it may even help you have a quicker and easier security experience.

1. Airport Security Mistakes Happen.

TSA screeners are human; they will make mistakes. However, the vast majority of these men and women are simply following the rules they are bound by. If you don’t like the rules, and I for one think they could use a huge dose of common sense, take it out on the politicians, not the screeners. (Click on photos to enlarge)

2. Airport Security Mistakes are Few

Stories of outrage make news: when a former Miss USA described her pat-down as “molestation”, people paid attention. Still, in the United States alone, 2 million people get on planes every day; that’s almost three-quarters of a billion a year. The number of “outrages” is miniscule in comparison.

3. Know the Security Checkpoint Requirements

Passengers have security responsibilities too, and following them will speed your time in the line; know what you can and cannot bring through the security checkpoint. Forget arguing about it; you will not win.

4. Security Changes are Coming

By the end of 2011, the TSA hopes to have a “trusted traveler” program in place, or at least in testing-mode: participants who agree to background checks and interviews will supposedly breeze through security. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a majority of passengers say they’d pay for this service, up to $150 a year. Would you pay for quicker security?

5. Airport Security Will Never be Completely Hassle-Free

If you yearn for the good old days of zipping through the airport, forget it. We’ll never go back. The people behind 9/11 saw to that. All we can do is make the best of a difficult situation. Yes, report any outrages you see, but also do your part to make the security experience a smooth one for you and all the people in line behind you.

Continental to let coach customers buy more space

Continental Airlines will begin charging coach customers extra if they want a seat with more legroom.

Prices will vary depending on the length of a flight and popularity of the route. A spokeswoman said extra room on a Houston-New York flight might cost $59. International fliers would pay more than that.

Starting March 17, coach customers will be able to pay the charge at check-in to get an exit-row seat with at least 7 inches more legroom than the other rows, Continental said Wednesday.

Top-level members of Continental's frequent-flier program - those who rack up at least 25,000 miles a year - and their traveling companions will still be able to claim the exit row without extra charge.

To see what other airlines are doing, visit:  http://bit.ly/8YCZKV  

When Do Airlines Change Their Ticket Prices?

Domestic U.S and Canada Airfare Distribution

Domestic U.S. and Canadian airfares are distributed to subscribers (reservation systems) on the following schedule and are loaded approximately 2-4 hours after distribution into reservation systems (except on FareCompare.com which sends out free airfare email alerts immediately):

> Weekdays - 3 times daily at 10:00am, 12:30pm and 8:00pm Eastern Time

> Weekends - 1 time daily at 5:00pm Eastern Time (loaded after Midnight the next day into reservation systems)

International Airfare Distribution

International airfares are distributed to subscribers (reservation systems) on the following schedule and are loaded approximately 4-8 hours after distribution (except on FareCompare.com which sends out free airfare email alerts immediately):

> Weekdays - 5 times daily at 1:00am, 5:30am, 11:00am, 3:00pm, 8:00pm Eastern Time

> Saturday - 2 times at 5:00am and 5:00pm Eastern Time

> Sunday - 2 times at 5:00pm and 8:30pm Eastern Time