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
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