{"id":2380336,"date":"2024-12-15T16:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T21:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/so-called-junk-fees-actually-save-you-money-ticket-prices-may-soon-go-up-if-dems-take-them-awayflexible-pricing-is-not-a-defect-but-rather-a-perk-of-modern-air-travel-that-benefits-consume\/"},"modified":"2024-12-15T16:13:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T21:13:41","slug":"so-called-junk-fees-actually-save-you-money-ticket-prices-may-soon-go-up-if-dems-take-them-awayflexible-pricing-is-not-a-defect-but-rather-a-perk-of-modern-air-travel-that-benefits-consume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/so-called-junk-fees-actually-save-you-money-ticket-prices-may-soon-go-up-if-dems-take-them-awayflexible-pricing-is-not-a-defect-but-rather-a-perk-of-modern-air-travel-that-benefits-consume\/","title":{"rendered":"So-Called &#8216;Junk Fees&#8217; Actually Save You Money: Ticket Prices May Soon Go Up if Dems Take Them Away\u201cFlexible pricing is not a defect but rather a perk of modern air travel that benefits consumers.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">68<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fso-called-junk-fees-actually-save-you-money-ticket-prices-may-soon-go-up-if-dems-take-them-awayflexible-pricing-is-not-a-defect-but-rather-a-perk-of-modern-air-travel-that-benefits-consume%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2380336&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on\u200b Investigations recently\u200d conducted a hearing \u2062regarding airline fees for services such as carry-on baggage and\u200b seat selection. This hearing arose after a report revealed that\u200c major U.S. airlines earned $12\u2064 billion from these \u200cancillary fees between 2018 and 2023.Senate\u2063 Chairman Richard Blumenthal criticized\u2064 these fees for negatively impacting travelers, arguing that they increase overall costs. Though, the article contends that unbundling ticket costs allows for more \u200daffordable flight options, catering to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaiian-airlines-parent-surges-on-1-9-bln-buyout-deal-with-alaska-air\/\" title=\"Hawaiian Airlines&#039; parent soars after .9 billion acquisition agreement with Alaska Air\">cost-conscious travelers<\/a> \u2064who prefer\u2062 to pay only\u2063 for necessary services.<\/p>\n<p>The piece emphasizes that most consumers \u200cfavor having more choices rather than\u200d a one-size-fits-all model, \u200cdrawing parallels to\u200b other sectors such as sports \u200devents and\u200b streaming \u200bservices where premium options are \u2063common. It\u200c highlights that \u2062air\u200c travel costs\u200c have significantly\u2062 decreased over the last four decades, \u2064resulting \u2062in more Americans flying. <\/p>\n<p>The author argues that the \u200dfocus should shift from regulating airline pricing to addressing \u2063outdated \u2064air traffic \u2063control infrastructure and staffing shortages within the Federal \u2062Aviation Management\u2064 (FAA), which currently faces a shortfall of around \u200c3,000 air \u200dtraffic controllers. the message is that\u200d flexible pricing in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-moore-proposed-airline-merger-would-bring-more-competition-and-lower-fares\/\" title=\"Stephen Moore: Proposed Airline Merger Would Bring More Competition and Lower Fares\">modern air travel<\/a> is beneficial\u200c for \u2064consumers, and\u200c policymakers should prioritize improvements in\u2062 air traffic\u200c management instead of criticizing airlines&#8217; pricing\u2062 structures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recently <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/wireStory\/us-senators-set-grill-officials-5-airlines-fees-116450960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/wireStory\/us-senators-set-grill-officials-5-airlines-fees-116450960&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw02G2VQpTvsahy1uFBjpUKo\">held<\/a> a hearing on airline fees associated with carry-on-baggage, seat choice, and other amenities. The Capitol Hill showdown followed the release of a new Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/26\/business\/airlines-junk-fees\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/26\/business\/airlines-junk-fees\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2H_eIVkK-Dqy8yiDEfFp1D\">report<\/a> showing how major U.S. airlines made a combined $12 billion between 2018 and 2023 from this flexible pricing structure.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthalof Connecticut &mdash; chairman of the subcommittee &mdash; argued the ancillary charges are harming travelers. Why? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/morning-joe\/watch\/senator-takes-aim-at-junk-fees-raising-the-cost-of-airfare-225473093870\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/morning-joe\/watch\/senator-takes-aim-at-junk-fees-raising-the-cost-of-airfare-225473093870&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mP1-ZTigCCOfXAd_LxdsG\">Because<\/a> &ldquo;an increasing  of airline revenue is coming from these fees.&rdquo; But contrary to the senator&rsquo;s claim, the evolving payment structure for flying is a plus for passengers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">From the consumer perspective, policymakers should understand that unbundling airline ticket costs has made <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/family-left-heartbroken-missing-8500-cruise-due-crucial-travel-error\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> more affordable. Rather than being stuck paying for airfare that includes all the bells and whistles, more cost-conscious travelers have the option to pay for a cheaper alternative.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Taken to the extreme, should first class tickets be the only option available to air travelers? Of course not.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In nearly every other sector of the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/get-ready-rock-trump-announces-massive-plan-hyper-charge-us-economy-job-market\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">economy<\/a>, consumers prefer more choice rather than less. And Uncle Sam doesn&rsquo;t seem particularly concerned with regulating these other instances.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">At sporting events, for example, Americans pay extra for certain seats or to access VIP food and drink areas. Families often buy premium passes to skip lines or enjoy a unique character meet-and-greet experience at Disney World. And many people pay an extra $3 per month to watch ad-free content on Amazon Prime.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Modern air travel that combines robust competition with an a la carte experience for passengers has made flying more affordable and accessible to a growing number of Americans. Because the cost to fly has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airlines.org\/dataset\/a4a-presentation-industry-review-and-outlook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.airlines.org\/dataset\/a4a-presentation-industry-review-and-outlook\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2UoZLiSWMiG0yTcrBNiN8R\">fallen<\/a> by roughly half over the past four-decades, nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airlines.org\/new-survey-nearly-90-percent-of-americans-have-flown-commercially\/#:~:text=The%20survey%20showed%20that%2C%20in,had%20flown%20in%20their%20lifetime.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.airlines.org\/new-survey-nearly-90-percent-of-americans-have-flown-commercially\/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520survey%2520showed%2520that%252C%2520in,had%2520flown%2520in%2520their%2520lifetime.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1TtFKUL2tuT2Z_nUbL364C\">90 percent<\/a> of Americans have flown on commercial airlines. That&rsquo;s a jump of roughly 20 percent since 1988.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rather than increasingly pushing passengers into a one-size-fits-all travel experience, the federal government should focus on getting its own house in order to improve air travel.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For one, the Federal Aviation Administration needs to fast track infrastructure modernization projects. Air traffic control systems are quickly aging and becoming unreliable. According to a recent Government Accountability Office <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-24-107001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-24-107001&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw26sewtw71D6tRwBja7lJo5\">report<\/a>, 51 of the 138 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">air traffic control systems<\/a> are &ldquo;unsustainable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Did you know that air traffic controllers still manually move around paper strips to keep track of airplanes? In the age of iPhones and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/best-thing-see-today-ai-video-trump-playing-fortunate-son-making-libs-cry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">artificial intelligence<\/a>, relying on paper to monitor jumbo jets is like watching a movie on a VCR rather than streaming it on Netflix or Hulu.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Old infrastructure isn&rsquo;t the only problem plaguing the government&rsquo;s aviation responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Reporting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/newark-airport-flight-delays-air-traffic-controllers\/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFesx1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZH_-3JMyCtgjMtxFFQ4NTc6srvJEROnf_DVbn7ew1QT6R0zbzWIv2WGbw_aem_9Kgqsh_t_09ujvmdDs7rTQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/newark-airport-flight-delays-air-traffic-controllers\/?fbclid%3DIwY2xjawFesx1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZH_-3JMyCtgjMtxFFQ4NTc6srvJEROnf_DVbn7ew1QT6R0zbzWIv2WGbw_aem_9Kgqsh_t_09ujvmdDs7rTQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pU15y50lmd17orbfto-6s\">suggests<\/a> the FAA is short 3,000 air traffic controllers. As a result, flights are being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kxan.com\/news\/local\/austin\/austin-airport\/flight-delays-reported-at-aus-faa-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.kxan.com\/news\/local\/austin\/austin-airport\/flight-delays-reported-at-aus-faa-says\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1h6iMBJePs4g2pZl_aSHJN\">delayed<\/a> or canceled &mdash; leaving passengers to deal with the mess. In fact, the problem is so bad that prior to the busy Thanksgiving travel period, the federal government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/21\/travel\/faa-holiday-air-travel-staffing-shortages\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/21\/travel\/faa-holiday-air-travel-staffing-shortages\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734115979935000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1WUqA34Ue-rU42Fg7b9PrJ\">announced<\/a> it would likely need to slow down air traffic because of the staffing gap.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Negativity from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations around the cost structure of flying is misplaced. Flexible pricing is not a defect but rather a perk of modern air travel that benefits consumers. Policymakers should take note.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em>Jackson Shedelbower is the executive director of the Center for Transportation Policy.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><i><b>The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either d or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/submitop-ed\/\">here<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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This event followed the publication of a Senate report revealing that major U.S. airlines generated $12 billion from this pricing model between 2018 and 2023. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who chairs the subcommittee, claimed these additional charges are detrimental to travelers because they represent an increasing portion of airline revenue. However, contrary to his assertion, this evolving pricing strategy benefits passengers by making travel more affordable through unbundled ticket costs. Instead of paying for all-inclusive airfare, budget-conscious travelers can opt for cheaper alternatives. In fact, should first-class tickets be the only option? Clearly not; consumers generally prefer more choices across various sectors in the economy without government intervention.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, at sporting events in America, fans often pay extra for better seating or access to exclusive food areas. Families frequently purchase premium passes at Disney World to skip lines or meet characters uniquely. Many also pay an additional fee for ad-free streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime. The competitive landscape combined with an \u00e0 la carte approach has made air travel more accessible and affordable over recent decades; nearly 90% of Americans have flown commercially since costs have halved over the last forty years\u2014a significant increase from 1988.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of pushing passengers toward a uniform travel experience, federal authorities should focus on improving their own operations within aviation management\u2014specifically modernizing infrastructure through expedited projects by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Many air traffic control systems are outdated and unreliable; a recent Government Accountability Office report indicated that 51 out of 138 systems are &#8220;unsustainable.&#8221; Surprisingly, air traffic controllers still use paper strips to track flights\u2014an outdated method in today&#8217;s digital age.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, reports indicate that there is a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers leading to flight delays and cancellations affecting passengers significantly\u2014so much so that prior to Thanksgiving travel season announcements were made about potential slowdowns due to staffing shortages.<\/p>\n<p>Criticism from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee regarding flexible pricing structures is misplaced; such pricing is not a flaw but rather an advantage in modern air travel benefiting consumers overall\u2014a point policymakers should recognize<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2380337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Airline-Travel.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[44059,46854,46853,41094],"class_list":["post-2380336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-air-travel","tag-consumer-benefits","tag-junk-fees","tag-ticket-prices"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Airline-Travel.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2380336"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2380341,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380336\/revisions\/2380341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2380337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2380336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2380336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2380336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}