FlyersRights.org want Congress to pass laws to restrict all of the fees airlines charge 
passengers. The group says the fees are out of control. We kind of agree with that, but…
(Congress has thought about this for a long time, in part, because they don’t actually pay for their own flights, tax payers do, so it thinks airlines should provide an up front list of what fees people are paying, though the down side to this is passengers would quickly learn how much the federal/state/local governments are also charging people to fly. You can see the dilemma.)
Here’s what Kate Hanni, a woman who has parlayed a delayed flight into a career and director of FlyersRights.org told Congress:
Kate Hanni wants airline tickets to have higher taxes.
“Congress, not just DOT, should act now to protect consumers from the ever increasing number and variety of fees imposed on them by the airlines. These fees, many of which the airlines do not have to pay taxes on, are simply an effort by the airlines to shift their financial burdens onto American consumers at a time when they can least afford them.”
What Kati doesn’t say is that if airlines eliminate all of these silly fees — tickets will cost a even more.
Hey, we think silly fees are just dumb — we’re not boycotting Evil Spirit Airlines because of taxation issues, it’s the fact it wants to charge passengers to use the overhead bin. But as consumers, we have the right to vote with our dollars.
And we think Kati did (get it?) a good job with the passenger bill of rights to limit the amount of time passengers are allowed to be stuck on a runway. But like so many other activists that actually get their agenda looked at and passed — it’s never enough. Now, Kati the Menace looks more like a media whore than someone who is actually helping travelers.
Here’s the stupidest thing Kati Come Lately told Congress: “Airlines like imposing fees rather than increasing fares because in most cases they can avoid paying taxes which support the safety and efficiency of our airport system–so consumers are being ripped off and shortchanged at the same time–enough is enough.”
Consumers are not being ripped off by not paying taxes on some of the ticket. It costs a lot already, why would we want to pay more?
Please, Kati, shut up.
First, the “career” into which Ms Hanni has “parlayed” herself has cost her and her family over $100,000 over the last 3 years. You are apparently confused by an actual, dedicated activist who is working for a cause with no hidden financial agenda. In the interest of full disclosure, I contribute regularly to FlyersRights.org because I appreciate having someone who hates being treated like a crate of lawnmowers by the airlines, and appreciates having someone to demand that I be treated by the airlines like an actual human being. Third, folks with more business acumen than you understand that airlines are motivated to move to “fees” precisely because they are not taxed. I’m fed up with it, and like many of my compatriots wish the airlines would just charge me the cost of the damn flight plus a reasonable margin, without messing with me at every step.
Please, Hipster staff, shut up.
Actually, we’re not confused at all and don’t particularly care for people who say they are speaking for all travelers, when in fact, they are not, because FlyersRights.org doesn’t speak for us. While the original passenger bill of rights was passed with good intentions, we’re still waiting to see the unintended consequences from that.
And anyone who makes our plane tickets cost more — which the current proposal will do — while mugging for the camera at every opportunity will not garner much sympathy from us.
Sure, all of the additional fees are a money grab — in business parlance, we think that’s called “greed.” People can still vote with their wallet.
But avoiding taxes legally, well, that’s just American and we support that completely and are trying to figure out how we can do it too instead of whining to congress and TV cameras.
Oh, and if you really don’t want me to write anything, stop sending me press releases.