“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
SPIRIT AIRLINES, RYANAIR

Today, Kate Hanni’s organization, www.FlyersRights.org
, responded to the recent announcement by Spirit Airlines that it will
be charging passengers for the privilege of placing their luggage in the
cabin’s overhead storage bins by calling upon Congress to ban such
practices permanently. Also, in light of a recent announcement by Irish
carrier Ryanair that it will begin charging passengers for in-flight
bathroom use, the group also urged Congress to prohibit US carriers from
doing likewise.

Spirit Air, according to their announcement, plans to charge US$45
each way for the use of overhead luggage bins by passengers. The fee
drops to US$30 for customers who reserve a spot before arriving at the
gate, either online or at the ticket counter. Members of the Spirit Fare
Club will have to pay US$20. This is in addition to their current
policy of charging anywhere from US$15 – US$90 for checked luggage.

“The reason why the US has become the ‘Land of the Fee’ when it comes
to air travel is simple: fees are treated differently than other
revenue in terms of the taxes they have to pay to fund the national
aviation system,” added Hanni, “so not only do these latest gimmicks
harm passengers, they are shortchanging all of us by skirting their
responsibility to help maintain and upgrade our nation’s aviation
infrastructure.”

Ryanair has begun retrofitting their fleet of airliners to begin
charging passengers for the “privilege” of using their onboard restroom
during flights. Passengers will pay approximately US$1.40 each time
nature calls while flying. In addition, three of the four restrooms
currently on their airplanes will be removed to make space for
additional seats.

Flyersrights.org is calling upon all passengers to tell the airlines,
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Please click the link below to sign an online
petition to the airline executives urging them not to charge fees for
overhead luggage bin usage or bathroom access:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/flyersrights-nomoresurcharges/
.