The coalition of European consumer groups, BEUC and its 16 member organisations have lodged a complaint with the European Commission, alleging that certain airlines enforce illegal commercial practices regarding hand luggage.
The complaint argues that hand luggage should be included in the base price of a ticket, which affects airlines like easyJet, Norwegian, and Ryanair.
BEUC referred to EU Regulation 1008/2008 and directives on unfair commercial practices, contending that additional fees for hand baggage violate these laws.
EasyJet’s CEO Kenton Jarvis responded that his airline’s luggage policies are clear and appreciated by customers who may travel without additional purchases.
Norwegian asserted that its baggage fees are necessary for ensuring safety and punctuality, amidst a backdrop of €179m in fines imposed on low-cost carriers in Spain for baggage-related policies.
BEUC shared: “carriage of hand baggage cannot be made subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions. We believe that these practices are a breach of EU Regulation 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services.”
Agustín Reyna, Director General of BEUC, shared: “Haven’t we all experienced the fear of our hand baggage not fitting in the airline’s sizers and being charged extra fees? Today we are taking action against seven airlines who are exploiting consumers and are ignoring the EU top court who ruled that charging reasonably sized hand baggage is illegal. This was confirmed by recent fines in Spain which made clear that passengers can bring their reasonably sized hand baggage onboard at no additional cost. In addition to our European action, the ongoing revision of the Air Passenger Rights regulation is the perfect opportunity for the EU to clarify what services should be included in the basic ticket price. Our data shows that consumers expect to see a small item and a piece of hand luggage when buying basic tickets. Policymakers should also define hand luggage’s ‘reasonable size and weight’ to avoid surprises at the airport and ultimately reduce the number of disputes costing consumers and airlines time and money.”
