U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley addressed executives from major American airlines, criticizing them for imposing high fees and allegedly harassing passengers who have already paid for their flights. During the confrontation, Senator Hawley stated, “You guys do appreciate that flying on your airlines is a disaster, don’t you? Flying on your airlines is horrible. It’s terrible experience.”
Senator Hawley focused on Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, accusing them of corporate greed due to inconsistent pricing for baggage fees. He questioned why there are significant price differences, asking, "But, why is it that you’re charging some people, what, triple, quadruple the amount [for luggage]?"
The senator also inquired about the practices of these airlines concerning "bounties" given to gate agents for enforcing carry-on bag policies and penalizing passengers. This includes actions such as removing customers from flights.
Previously, in June, Senator Hawley had questioned former Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun regarding his emphasis on profit over safety and quality.
A recording of the full exchange with airline executives can be accessed online.
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