MPs Expense $800,000 in Baggage Fees on Taxpayer-Funded Trip to Study Baggage Fees

OTTAWA – A delegation of 14 Members of Parliament has returned from a two-week fact-finding mission in Europe, where they studied airline baggage fee structures. The trip, which cost taxpayers $1.4 million, included $800,000 in checked baggage fees alone. You cannot understand baggage fees without experiencing them firsthand, explained the committee chair, wrestling a fourth suitcase onto a scale at Pearson International Airport. Each of our delegates required seven pieces of luggage to properly document the various fee structures across European carriers. The receipts have been filed. The MPs visited six countries, stayed in four-star hotels, and dined at 37 Michelin-recommended restaurants. Their final report, expected in 2028, will likely recommend forming a subcommittee to further study the issue. A parallel study by the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the same information was available on the internet at no cost.

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