Consumer advocates complain: Hand luggage fees for airlines for no reason!
Consumer advocates complain: Hand luggage fees for airlines for no reason!
consumer advocates have submitted an official complaint to the EU Commission, which is directed against several airlines, including Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air. The occasion of the complaint are the additional fees that travelers have to pay for hand luggage that goes beyond the dimensions of a small bag. This practice is criticized by the European Consumer Protection Dachverband Beuc as inadmissible. In Germany, the Bundesverband (VZBV) consumer center participates in this concern.
The complaint includes a total of seven airlines that often require travelers to pay extra for hand luggage from a certain size. These airlines only allow a small hand luggage piece that fits under the seat; Everything that goes beyond is chargeable. Consumer advocates argue that the currently required hand luggage limits of the airlines are inappropriate and illegal.
legal situation on hand luggage fees
The European Consumer Protection Association Beuc refers to a judgment of the European Court of Justice in 2014. In this it was determined that no additional fees may be collected for hand luggage as long as the "reasonable specifications" are met to size and weight. However, the exact limits for hand luggage have so far not been regulated in EU law, which leads to a variety of different regulations in the airlines.
ryanair rejected the allegations and claims that the regulations are compliant with EU law. The company argues that the possibility of carrying a larger hand luggage piece would increase the ticket price for all passengers. Therefore, reference is made to choose a small hand luggage piece in order to avoid additional costs.
demands for reforms
The consumer advocates are calling for a clear regulation at the EU level for the definition of adequate hand luggage sizes and the services contained in the ticket. The planned reform of the passenger rights regulation is considered the ideal opportunity to set these regulations and thus create more transparency for travelers. This could significantly influence the current practice of airlines.
In view of the legal situation and the reactions of the affected airlines, it becomes clear that this topic affects not only travelers, but also the entire aviation industry. The further discussion about hand luggage fees could therefore have far -reaching consequences and change the handling of air travel in Europe.For more information on this topic, read the articles on GMX and Tagesschau .
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| Ort | Deutschland |
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