European consumer rights groups have criticised seven of the continent’s leading low-cost airlines for allegedly “exploiting” passengers by charging for hand luggage and enforcing sometimes confusing and onerous stipulations.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 16 members from 12 countries have filed a complaint to the European Commission targeting Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizzair over their demanding “undue fees” from passengers for carry-on bags.
“We are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the commercial practices of the targeted airlines and the wider sector,” the BEUC announced.
“We are taking action against seven airlines who are exploiting consumers and are ignoring the EU top court which ruled that charging reasonably sized hand baggage is illegal,” said BEUC director-general Agustin Reyna.
Reyna cited a 2014 EU Court of Justice assertion that “carriage of hand baggage cannot be made subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions and complies with applicable security requirements”.
Reyna believes revising the EU’s Air Passenger Rights regime is “the perfect opportunity for the EU to clarify what services should be included in the basic ticket price”.
“Our data shows that consumers expect to see a small item and a piece of hand luggage when buying basic tickets,” he said, citing surveys carried out around the continent.
Airlines in general have in recent years been tightening restrictions around and adding fees for baggage. These changes have affected long-haul trips run by more upmarket carriers based outside Europe but which fly to and from the continent.
Some of these have cut the long-haul carry-on allowance to a short-haul-style 7kg – a limit that makes it very difficult to travel with cameras and related equipment – and require a fee for any checked baggage.
“We’re asking for a small personal item and a piece of hand-luggage, be it a hand trolley, a suitcase or a backpack, to be accounted for in the price,” the BEUC said, in response to a question by dpa about baggage policies and fees applied by long-haul carriers.
The BEUC added that any investigation or application of the rules would cover the sector as a whole, including all flights to and from Europe, and not just the seven European budget airlines named recently.
“We’re also calling for establishing size and weight standards,” the organisation added. – dpa
