Summary
Between 2018 and 2023, major airlines collected $12.4 billion in seating fees, with United surpassing checked bag fee revenue in 2023.
The Biden administration has prioritized eliminating junk fees, including seat selection fees, which have become a significant source of revenue for airlines.
Budget airlines Spirit and Frontier have been criticized for paying gate agents to enforce bag policies and collect fees.
It’s only “our” wallets when the government collects fines and disperses it to politicians and billionaires.