Date Published: 27/09/2023
EU demands that all airlines allow free hand luggage
Brussels believes carry-on bags should be free since they’re “essential” to travel
For several years now, most low-cost airlines have been implementing strict baggage rules and charging travellers for the privilege of carrying a suitcase onto the plane. Ryanair, for example, allows for one small handbag or backpack, but even the most modest wheelie case costs extra.
Last month, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Spain opened a file against several budget carriers over their hand luggage policies and now it seems that Brussels is following suit, as the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has unanimously voted in favour of demanding that airlines allow passengers to carry a cabin bag for free.
“Low-cost companies are doing business with the price of tickets by hiding the supplement for carrying cabin luggage until the end of the purchase. Europe has already spoken out on the matter and, even so, Member States continue to allow airlines playing with prices and deceiving travellers. This must end,” the Commission said this week.
Ryanair, Vueling and easyJet have all come under the spotlight and the EU Court of Justice has reiterated that hand luggage should be considered an “essential aspect” of travel once it meets “reasonable requirements” regarding its weight and dimensions.
EU Member States are therefore urged to ensure compliance with this ruling and, in the meantime, to strive to achieve transparency on any fees charged for hand luggage.
And the changes could be coming soon, since the resolution is set to be approved in the Plenary Session of Strasbourg in October.
One concession the group has made is that airlines should still be allowed to weigh complementary carry-on luggage, but that all of the low-cost carriers agree on common measurements to avoid passenger confusion.
Image: Freepik
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268