Consumer advocates complain: airlines charge hand luggage for no reason!

Consumer advocates complain: airlines charge hand luggage for no reason!

Consumer advocates have filed an official complaint with the EU Commission against several airlines, including Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air. The reason for the complaint is the additional fees that travelers have to pay for hand luggage that exceeds the dimensions of a small bag. This practice is criticized as inadmissible by the European consumer protection association BEUC. In Germany, the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) is involved in this matter.

The complaint includes a total of seven airlines that often require travelers to pay extra for carry-on luggage over a certain size. These airlines only allow you to take one small piece of hand luggage that fits under the seat free of charge; Anything beyond this will be subject to a charge. Consumer advocates argue that the airlines' current carry-on baggage limits are unreasonable and illegal.

Legal situation regarding hand luggage fees

In its criticism, the European consumer protection association BEUC refers to a ruling by the European Court of Justice from 2014. This stipulated that no additional fees may be charged for hand luggage as long as the “appropriate requirements” regarding size and weight are met. However, the exact limits for hand luggage have not yet been regulated in EU law, which leads to a variety of different regulations for airlines.

Ryanair has rejected the allegations and claimed that the regulations comply with EU law. The company argues that the ability to carry a larger carry-on bag would increase the ticket price for all passengers. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a small piece of hand luggage to avoid additional costs.

Calls for reforms

Consumer advocates are calling for clear regulations at EU level to define appropriate hand luggage sizes and the services included in the ticket. The planned reform of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation is seen as an ideal opportunity to define these regulations and thus create more transparency for travelers. This could have a significant impact on airlines’ current practices.

Considering the legal situation and the reactions of the affected airlines, it is clear that this issue affects not only travelers but also the entire aviation industry. The ongoing discussion about hand luggage fees could have far-reaching consequences and permanently change the way air travel is handled in Europe.

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