EasyJet and Ryanair, along with five other airlines, face the prospect of new penalties for baggage claims. The two airlines have rejected the claim that they “abuse” passengers and fl on EU regulations regarding cabin bag policies.
Both EasyJet and Ryanair are located in the crosshairs of the 12 European Consumer Organizations (BEUC) and its 16 member organizations that filed official complaints with the European Commission, and could pose substantial fines for seven related airlines. BEUC is requesting a “EU-wide investigation” into the practice of leviing additional charges for carry-on baggage. Last year, Spanish consumer and user organizations (OCUs) imposed 179 million euros sanctions for “abusive” carry-on baggage rules.
This round includes not only EasyJet and Ryanair, but also Norwegian airlines, French company Transabia, Hungarian airline Wizzair, and Spanish company Volotea and Vueling.
Beuc Director Agustín Reyna said:
“This has been confirmed by recent Spanish fines, making it clear that passengers can bring reasonably sized baggage onto the ship at no additional cost. In addition to European litigation, the ongoing revision of AIR passenger rights regulations is a great opportunity for the EU to clarify what services should include in their basic ticket prices.
“Our data shows that consumers expect to see small items and baggage when purchasing basic tickets. Policymakers need to define the “reasonable size and weight” of baggage to avoid surprises at airports and reduce the number of conflicts that ultimately cost consumers and airlines time and money. ”
Beuc points to suspect tactics that certain airlines are employing. They simply cite “suppressing different fees for selected routes, flights and booking times.”
These fees start at a modest £5.99, but the “Airport Bag Fee” is charged directly on the airport Skyrocket, and costs £48. Beuc also pays attention to Ryanair's fluctuating baggage charges. This depends on the route and the date of the trip.
If booked in advance, the cost ranges from £6 to £36, but if processed at the airport it will skyrocket from £20 to £60. Beuc claims that the vast number of passengers that flew alongside these airlines in 2024 could have been affected.
What was the airline's reaction to these accusations?
A Ryanair spokesman said the airline “welcomes the filing of this complaint,” claiming that its baggage policy “is fully compliant with EU law” and “confirms” its “package policy.” The spokesman explained in more detail. “Ryanair allows each passenger to carry generous (40 x 25 x 20 cm) personal bags for free as part of the basic airfare.
“If an airline is forced to include additional carry-on baggage as part of its basic fare, we will reduce the selection and drive airfares for all passengers that are harmful to consumers.”
Ryanair also swipes BEUC for deals with online travel agents (OTAs). “If Beuc is really worried about 'exploited' consumers, why should they continue to ignore rame charging due to OTA overcharges? Website? ”
The spokesman suggested, “To prohibit these harmful OTA overcharges and enforce transparency in OTA pricing is a much better use of Beuc and its members' resources.”
A Norwegian aviation spokesman said, “Norwegians are committed to providing safe and affordable travel, and our baggage policy reflects this. We are compliant with EU regulations, and we believe the policies are transparent and are essential to managing our weight and limited space to ensure passenger safety and maintain reliability.
“Our customers show that they appreciate that they don't have to pay extra bags when they need it. Customers traveling with Norway can bring bags from duty-free shops in addition to their bags on the aircraft.”
Alliance Airlines 4 Europe, the airlines representing major European airlines such as EasyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair and Volotea, have issued a joint statement. A spokesperson said, “All airlines can bring one personal item as part of the fare, in line with the Vueling ruling of the EU (CJEU) court.
“A 2024 Euro Barometer survey shows that 90% of passengers are well informed of the size and weight limits of the luggage included in tickets. Actions raised today by the consumer group could reduce consumer options and force all travelers to pay for additional services they don't need.
“The CJEU expressly acknowledges the value of unbundling services and how this allows passengers to choose the exact service that best suits their needs. The Spanish Consumer Protection Agency's decision regarding cabin bags is currently under appeal, and the European Commission is considering whether it is in compliance with EU law.
“Making cabin bags mandatory will force up to 50 million passengers in Spain to pay for things they don't want.”
Furthermore, the Spanish Airlines Association (ALA), which represents vueling, among other things, claims that claims cabin package requests are “completely legal.” The spokesperson added: “This practice allows passengers to pay only for the services they need, giving consumers the ability to make choices based on their travel needs.
“In fact, this was an option chosen by over 50 million passengers in 2024 and traveled without a trolley. If this practice is prohibited, these 50 million passengers will have to pay for services they don't need, and they will need to increase their travel expenses.
“It should be noted that airlines are currently already working with European authorities on standardizing package dimensions. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs' ruling calls for an end to the practice by imposing a fine of 179 million euros to request packages in cabin packages, and is being sued by affected airlines.
“Therefore, there will be no final decision on this issue until the court issues a award.” Wizzair chose not to comment on the issue.
