Schumer: Passengers shouldn't pay fees when bags go missing

If your bags don’t get to your destination when you do, Sen. Charles Schumer thinks you shouldn’t have to pay an extra free to check them.

Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday he will introduce legislation forcing airlines to give refunds as soon as luggage goes missing if they don’t volunteer to do so on their own. New regulations that will go into effect next month only require airlines to return baggage fees when luggage is permanently lost; most lost bags eventually turn up.

“Unless airlines do the job they are paid to do and return bags in a timely fashion, passengers shouldn’t have to pay a dime,” Schumer said. “It boggles the mind that airlines can lose your bags for days on end and still stick you with the bill.”

Last year, U.S. airlines made $3.4 billion in baggage fees.