Spain fines four airlines for hand luggage policies: an important step for consumers
About this publication
Today, the Spanish Ministry for Social Rights, Consumers and the 2030 Agenda has fined four airlines (Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet and Volotea) for abusive practices including unfair pricing for hand luggage for a total amount of €150m. BEUC supports this decision, as consumers are frequently confused and angered by the different and opaque pricing approaches of airlines. It is one of the first times that a 2014 European Court of Justice ruling, stipulating hand luggage cannot be subject to additional charges as long it meets reasonable weight and size requirements, is being applied.
However, it also shows consumer-friendly, EU standards on hand luggage are needed.
Agustin Reyna, Director for Legal and Economic Affairs at The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), said:
“This is a strong and welcome signal from the Spanish authorities because unfair policies from airlines about carry-on hand luggage need to stop. Too often, consumers arrive at the airport only to be told by the airline that they have to pay extra to have hand luggage or because their bags don’t conform to the airline’s rules on size. What we now need are EU-wide standards for hand luggage policies to harmonise what airlines require of consumers and to smoothen air passengers’ experience.
“Airlines are currently discussing by themselves regarding the future of carry-on hand luggage and what consumers should have to pay for. We seriously doubt that anything that is in consumers’ interests can come out of this discussion if consumer groups are not involved. We therefore urge the Commission to ensure that civil society, as well as all stakeholders impacted by the establishment of these standards, are part of these discussions.”
Background
In December 2023, following the publication of the Passenger Mobility Package, the European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean sent an open letter to airline groups calling on them to join forces to establish common industry standards of hand luggage to limit the number of different practices and enhance the passenger travel experience. To date, BEUC and other relevant stakeholders have not been invited to this industry-led initiative.