US senators are set to grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags

A U.S. Senate panel is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of a Senate subcommittee said Wednesday that airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Airlines says fees for perks let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want.