Senators ask airlines to bag baggage fees this summer

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. senators are calling on the airline industry to suspend baggage fees during the summer travel season.

The TSA expects security lines to be unusually long this summer due to a projected increase in travelers and too few TSA security screeners.

The letter, signed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., was sent to 12 major airlines.

It makes the case that eliminating bag fees would encourage consumers to check their luggage instead of bringing carry-on baggage.

It’s a move they argue would save travelers time by speeding up the security process.

Airlines for America, the lead trade group for the airline industry, disagrees.

An Airlines for America spokesman said in a statement, “We believe a better focus would be to urge TSA officials to ensure adequate staffing and equipment is being sent to the airports where they are most needed, and encouraging a more robust effort to register travelers for TSA PreCheck, which would reduce overall security wait time.”

TSA PreCheck allows expedited security screening for passengers who register with the agency and pay an $85 fee.

Congress is working to allow the TSA to shift millions of dollars in the budget to expedite the hiring of hundreds of additional security screeners.

The TSA aims to have 768 new officers in place by the end of the month.

Markey and Blumenthal said that may not happen until next year and this is an immediate action that can be taken to alleviate the burden on travelers.

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