In what may amount to a further threat on cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has observed that raising passenger airport security fees could offset the additional cost of inspecting more bags as travelers opt to carry-on luggage vs. paying to check it.
TSA told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security that the airlines decision to charge for checked bags has increased carry-on luggage resulting in more luggage having to be inspected at security check points.
Senator Mary Landrieu asked whether the taxpayers should be paying the additional cost to inspect luggage or should the airlines use some of their profits made from checked baggage fees to offset the incremental cost to the taxpayer.
TSA refused to comment whether their additional costs should be offset by passengers or the airlines directly.
An increase in security fees has been proposed almost every year since it was first introduced in 2002 but Congress has consistently refused to pass any increase.
Higher prices, as well as flying fewer flights and charging more passenger fees, helped U.S. airlines makes its first profit last year since 2007. Experts estimate that Americas eight largest airlines will earn over $5 billion this year and as much as $5.6 billion in 2012.
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