Carry-on baggage fees: are airlines abusing them?

Some fifteen European associations have called on the European Commission to launch an EU-wide investigation into the hand baggage charging policies of seven low-cost airlines.

EasyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizzair are "charging consumers undue fees," the French Confederation for Consumer Affairs, Housing and Living Environment (CLCV), a stakeholder in the initiative alongside 15 other NGOs that are members of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), accused in a statement on Wednesday.

Indeed, "the Court of Justice of the EU (...) ruled in 2014 that the transport of hand luggage cannot be subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions and complies with applicable safety requirements," the association emphasizes.

However, according to the group of associations, these seven companies impose fees for hand luggage of reasonable size, but which they consider "oversized": 36 euros for Ryanair, nearly 43 euros for EasyJet, or even up to 280 euros for Vueling if it turns out that the dimensions defined by the company are not respected.

Another contentious point: the dimensions used to define the format (small or large) of baggage allowed on board "are particularly heterogeneous from one company to another."

This collective of European associations has therefore decided to contact the European Commission and the national consumer protection institutions of the Twenty-Seven "so that an investigation is carried out at EU level and that the illegal commercial practices of airlines are sanctioned."

Among the airlines singled out, the Irish Ryanair stated in a press release that it welcomed this initiative, believing that the investigation will demonstrate that its "baggage pricing policy fully complies with European regulations, (...) which guarantees all European airlines the freedom to determine prices, including those for optional services."

For its part, Norwegian said in a statement sent to AFP that its pricing model "complies with European regulations" and stated that its customers "appreciate" it. EasyJet, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizzair also declined to comment when asked for comment.

This initiative comes as debates are underway within European institutions on reforming the regulation governing air passenger rights. According to the French association UFC-Que Choisir, these discussions offer the EU an "ideal opportunity" to "clarify the services that should be included in the basic ticket price" and to harmonize rules relating to hand baggage.