CNN "American Morning" - Transcripts

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

CHETRY: Well, Spirit Airlines' decision to charge a fee for stowing bags in the overhead compartment may have been the last straw. New York Senator Chuck Schumer says that these charges are really a slap in the face for travelers. He's actually introducing a bill to reign in Airlines and to block fees for carry-on bags. Senator Schumer joins us now from Capitol Hill.

Great to talk to you this morning.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Morning.

CHETRY: You know the airlines, people love to hate them right now and there's a lot of frustration going on, but what are you proposing when it comes to these additional fees not only in the chase of checked baggage, but in the case of Spirit Airlines, for carry-ons?

SCHUMER: Yes carry-on baggage steps over the line. Everybody understands that the airlines are having troubles, they took away the meal, and then they took away the bag of peanuts and the no pillows. They charge you for luggage that you had to check in.

But this is a necessity of traveling, people need their carry-on bags. It's part and parcel. Parents need it to feed their kids. Business people need it because they need stuff to look at. So this goes beyond and what we've said is -- basically, we've said that the Treasury shall no longer allow this to happen. They get a tax break to do this, that's why they try to do it, and we'll take away that tax break.

The bottom line is very simple and that is, this is one of the -- you know, it's a quality of life issue. We all travel, we're all now accommodated to stuffing things in a little suitcase that can fit right on top, and they ought not to charge for that.

CHETRY: Right. I mean and so they claim, Spirit Airlines has left diaper bags exempt, if you can fit your laptop underneath your seat --

SCHUMER: Oh, please.

CHETRY: -- that's exempt. But the interesting thing is, you are right, a lot of people have huge carry-ons now because they're being charged fees to check bags as well. Spirit, though, I mean, right now is the only airline doing it. Are you putting up this legislation because you think others are soon to follow?

SCHUMER: Well, you got it Kiran. The pattern in the airline industry is a little guy goes forward, sticks his head up the foxhole and if no one shoots at it, they all do it. So we are making sure there's a barrage against this so that they won't do it.

And I'm hopeful the Treasury secretary can do this on his own. I'm talking to him, I'm hopeful that he will. But if he doesn't, we'll put in our legislation. It has broad support, a lot of my colleagues are very positive on it.

CHETRY: Well I want to read you a little bit of this op-ed written by Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza -

SCHUMER: Right.

CHETRY: He says that the company no longer allows free checked baggage. That's why he says it's unfair to 50 percent of customers who don't check bags. Why should we raise fares so that everyone's fares includes a checked bag?

So they basically say that the policy says the airline doesn't charge for purses and briefcases and other things, but that they also want to makes sure that these lines in the security check points are sped up and that this a la carte pricing of customers actually like it.

SCHUMER: I'll bet if you surveyed a hundred of his customers, 90 would be against it.

I mean, we've gotten -- since we've started talking about this -- and this is not just through me, but colleagues throughout the country -- the phones are ringing off the hook. This is one of those indignities.

I had the head of a major federal agency in yesterday, a different agency, not related to airlines. I said, what can I do for you? He said, get your checked bags bill passed.

Everyone cares about this. You know, life is difficult these days. It gets more and more complicated, more and more difficult. Let's keep a few things like they were.

CHETRY: Spirit Airlines CEO, as I talked about, Mr. Baldanza, says he's going to be reaching out to your office to argue for why he doesn't think this is a good idea. Has he talked - have you talked to him yet?

SCHUMER: I'll be happy to talk to him. I don't have anything personal against him, I'm just trying to fight for something that I think most people see as just crossing the line, the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to air travel.

And one other thing, I would say to him and everybody else, these days, checking bags is worrisome -- (A) your bag may be lost; and (B) because of the hub system, you have to rush to get that second connection and if you have to check the bag, you can't do it.

CHETRY: What about critics who say, hey you know what, you are jumping on this legislation pandering to get potential votes?

SCHUMER: Isn't that our job when we see a problem? I mean that's a silly argument.

CHETRY: All right, well keep us posted on how this goes, if you hear from them, and we'll see whether or not the legislation gets through. But thanks for joining us this morning and showing your perspective, always great to talk to you.

SCHUMER: Thanks, thanks, Kiran.

CHETRY: Nice to talk to you.

SCHUMER: Nice to talk to you, have a great day.

CHETRY: That was Chuck Schumer this morning. You too -- John.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source