US airlines have been urged by two senators to temporarily stop charging passengers baggage fees in an effort to speed up airport security queues.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey said passengers often bring extra items through the security screening process to save money.
They asked major US airlines to suspend the fees during the busy summer season.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has struggled with long queues at major airports.
“Passengers report waiting for so long in these lines that they miss flights, despite arriving at the airport hours in advance.” the senators wrote in a letter to airlines, the BBC reported.
“Travel officials, including TSA administrator Peter Neffenger, have expressed fears of a meltdown this summer as travel increases.”
A spokeswoman from industry body Airlines for America described the senators plan as a misguided attempt to re-regulate airlinex and would raise ticket prices.
Jean Medina said the TSA should hire additional staff at the busiest airports instead.
Federal budget cuts have recently reduced the number of TSA screeners.
American Airlines and Delta said they planned to loan employees to the TSA to handle low-level tasks.