A U.S. Senate panel deliberate to take intention at airline executives Wednesday for the carriers’ rising use of charges for early boarding, higher seats and different comforts that was once a part of the ticket value.

The panel’s chairman, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., mentioned he thinks the federal authorities ought to evaluate and maybe positive the airways for his or her use of what he known as junk charges, which he mentioned increase costs for shoppers.

Blumenthal mentioned seat charges are pure revenue for the airways as a result of they do not should create new seats or incur different bills by permitting clients to pick their very own seats.

The charges aren’t discouraging anyone. Individuals are flying greater than ever.

The Transportation Safety Administration reported screening almost 3.1 million vacationers at airports across the nation on Sunday, a brand new single-day file. The 15 busiest days in TSA historical past have all occurred this yr, with visitors at airport checkpoints up 5% over 2023.

Airline executives bristle on the time period “junk charges,” and argue they’re merely giving shoppers what they need: selections.

“Our clients who prioritize affordability have the choice to decide on a lower-fare product and, in doing so, choose out of paying for added companies that they are not looking for,” Andrew Nocella, the chief business officer of United Airways, mentioned in testimony ready for the panel’s listening to Wednesday. “However we even have clients who search extra companies, and so they retain the flexibility to decide on the companies they worth, for an incremental charge, like a seat with further legroom or checked luggage.”

Nocella agreed with critics who say charges shouldn’t come as a shock to passengers however should be clear and described clearly throughout the ticket-buying course of.

U.S. airways raised greater than $7 billion from charges on checked luggage final yr, with American and United main the pack. They scooped up one other $1 billion in ticket-change and cancellation charges, though that was about one-third of what they raised earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, when the most important airways dropped change charges.

Actual figures on different kinds of charges are exhausting to find out, however the Senate’s Everlasting Subcommittee on Investigations reported final week that United, American, Delta, Frontier and Spirit collected a mixed complete of greater than $12 billion in seat charges between 2018 and 2023. That included fees for issues equivalent to extra legroom or an aisle seat close to the entrance of the aircraft.

The panel was scheduled to listen to Wednesday from Nocella, American chief technique officer Steve Johnson, Delta chief exterior affairs officer Peter Carter, and the chief business officers of Frontier and Spirit.

Airline charges have been a frequent goal of criticism by the Biden administration, all the way in which as much as President Joe Biden.

A Transportation Division rule that took impact in October requires airways to make computerized money refunds for tickets and costs when flights are canceled. The airline trade is suing to dam one other regulation requiring extra outstanding disclosure of bags and cancellation charges. An appeals courtroom has blocked that rule, and its destiny is unsure underneath President-elect Donald Trump.

The airline trade and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are persevering with their battle over charges and different rules, even after the November election.