Senator Calls On Airlines To Not Charge Extra For Access To Overhead Bins

Image courtesy of Themarcogoon49

Should fliers have to pay to access the overhead bin on their flights? One lawmaker doesn’t think so, and wants United Airlines to ditch a new lower-cost fare option that limits travelers to exactly one small carry-on item that fits under their seat.

United unveiled its “Basic Economy” fare in November, which, along with baggage limits, means customers board last and won’t have guaranteed group seating. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York has taken issue with this policy, calling it one of the “most restrictive policies on airline passengers we have seen in a long time.”

“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,” Schumer said, PIX-11 reports.

He points out that airlines have too many fee policies as it is.

“Already, airlines charge extra for checked luggage, pillows, peanuts, and headphones and now you’ll have nowhere to store them,” Schumer said.

Earlier this year, Schumer pushed for some other changes in the airline industry: in February, the senator said he wanted the Federal Aviation Administration to establish seat-size requirements. But in April, his fellow senators shot down that effort.

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