WWMC 002 - $4.3B haul spurs calls for airlines to disclose 'hidden' fees

A New Jersey senator said Tuesday that much of the record $4.3 billion US airlines took in for checking bags and changing tickets the first nine months of the year were "hidden" fees that caught passengers by surprise. "Much of it came by surprise," Sen. Robert Menendez, DN.J., said, because many fees were not clearly disclosed to consumers. And, he said, the $4.3 billion reported Monday by the Transportation Department didn’t represent all the fees airlines collected for such privileges as boarding early or selecting a seat. Menendez's remarks follow a new fee announced Monday by Continental Airlines and a speech last week by former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall in which he called for more transparency in all airline fees. AIRLINE FEES: What you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, more JULY REPORT: Airline fees make it hard to shop for best deal The new Continental fee lets consumers hold a reservation and lock in a price for up to a week before paying for a ticket. Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark says fees begin at $5 per reservation for a 72-hour hold and $9 for a seven-day hold. Fees also vary by itinerary and number of days before departure. At an airline symposium in Turkey Dec. 7, Crandall said the industry's objection to consumers' calls for clear disclosure of extra fees "courts unnecessary customer discontent" and "risks its good name and reputation." A proposed Transportation Department rule would require US and foreign airlines to ...

Channel: YouTube Video Length: 1m 59s Date Found: Wed, Dec 15 2010 6:49 PM Category: Home Video Date Produced: Tue, Dec 14 2010 11:01 PM View Count: 0