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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5470 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5470

 To amend chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, to prohibit air 
carriers from paying ancillary fee incentives and discriminating on the 
   basis of a covered characteristic in charging or setting fares or 
                ancillary fees, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 10, 2024

  Mr. Hawley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To amend chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, to prohibit air 
carriers from paying ancillary fee incentives and discriminating on the 
   basis of a covered characteristic in charging or setting fares or 
                ancillary fees, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``End Airline Extortion Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO PAYMENT OF ANCILLARY FEE INCENTIVES 
              AND DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF A COVERED 
              CHARACTERISTIC.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 42309. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO PAYMENT OF ANCILLARY FEE 
              INCENTIVES AND DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF A COVERED 
              CHARACTERISTIC.

    ``(a) Prohibition Relating to Payment of Ancillary Fee 
Incentives.--No air carrier or foreign air carrier shall provide any 
payment, incentive, fee, or other benefit to any employee, contractor, 
or other person working on behalf of the carrier as a direct result of 
that employee, contractor, or person requiring a passenger of the 
carrier to pay an additional fee related to baggage, seating, or other 
add-on service as a condition of boarding a flight of the carrier.
    ``(b) Prohibition Relating to Discriminating on the Basis of a 
Covered Characteristic.--No air carrier or foreign air carrier shall 
discriminate on the basis of a covered characteristic in charging or 
setting fares or ancillary fees to passengers on the same flight for 
the same service.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Add-on service.--The term `add-on service' means any 
        service that a passenger or consumer may add to a flight 
        booking for an additional cost, or may purchase as an in-flight 
        service, including seating options, baggage, beverages, food, 
        early boarding, lounge access, internet or wifi access, or any 
        other service determined appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Covered characteristic.--The term `covered 
        characteristic' means, with respect to a passenger, disability 
        status, familial status, or any characteristic included in 
        section 40127(a) of title 49, United States Code.
            ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.''.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--No air carrier or foreign air carrier 
shall be liable for violating section 42309(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, (as added by subsection (a)) on the basis of any policies 
or actions of the carrier permitting the carriage of a minor child on a 
flight of that carrier at no charge or a reduced charge.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 423 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 42308 the following:

``42309. Prohibitions relating to payment of ancillary fee incentives 
                            and discriminating on the basis of a 
                            covered characteristic.''.
                                 <all>
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