Senators on Wednesday harshly criticized rising airline fees for luggage and seat assignments, saying carriers are looking for new ways to extract more money from passengers. Senator Richard Blumenthal,

A U.S. Senate panel planned to take aim at airline executives Wednesday for the carriers' growing use of fees for early boarding, better seats and other comforts that used to be part of the ticket price.

Executives from United, Delta, American Spirit and Frontier airlines will testify Wednesday to defend billions of dollars in airline seating fees at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing.

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hold a hearing Wednesday with five major airline executives about the rise of ancillary or “junk" fees and its impact on consumers.