Consumer advocates demand action against high hand luggage fees!

Consumer advocates demand action against high hand luggage fees!

More and more holidaymakers are faced with the problem that their hand luggage does not meet airline regulations, which can lead to unexpected additional costs. Airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air in particular charge significant fees for larger hand luggage. For example, Ryanair charges 18 euros for a piece of hand luggage whose dimensions cannot exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm, and other airlines also charge similar fees. Consumer protection organizations have therefore called for clear rules for hand luggage fees in order to strengthen the rights of passengers.

This problem led to consumer advocates, including the German Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), filing a complaint with the EU Commission. The complaint is directed against a total of seven airlines that are exploiting passengers through different payment requirements for hand luggage, according to the European consumer protection association BEUC.

Legal situation and consumer rights

A central basis in this dispute is a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from 2014. This states that no fees may be charged for hand luggage as long as the applicable dimensions and weight limits are appropriate. However, these limits are currently not clearly defined in EU regulations, which leads to ambiguity. Consumer advocates argue that airlines' regulations regarding hand luggage are often unreasonable and therefore illegal.

In order to protect the rights of passengers, consumer advocates are calling for the EU Commission to intervene. This could take the form of binding rules for all EU countries to avoid uncertainty at the airport. The space for hand luggage is often taken up when the smallest permitted dimensions are reached.

Model Spain and future developments

A look at Spain shows that last year several airlines were fined 179 million euros after violating the pricing policy for hand luggage. This could be an example for other EU countries to address the issue and create fair conditions for passengers.

In summary, the current practice of charging for hand luggage in the EU requires an urgent review. Consumer advocates see the upcoming reform of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation as an opportunity to introduce more precise regulations for the size and scope of hand luggage.

In order to have a smooth travel experience, many passengers not only want clear regulations, but also a strengthening of their rights vis-à-vis the airlines. You can find more information in the reports from The West and daily news.