Airlines Sue Passengers Over High-Priced Hand Luggage Exceeding Allowances
In a significant shift for air travelers, new EU legislation is set to reinforce free hand luggage rights and curb unfair fees by airlines. This development comes after years of legal disputes and complaints from consumer groups over hand luggage size restrictions and fees.
The core of the issue lies in a 2014 ruling by the European Court of Justice, which established that passengers should be able to bring reasonable hand luggage free of charge as part of their ticket price. However, many low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizzair, have continued to restrict free hand luggage size and impose fees, leading to ongoing disputes and legal actions.
Consumer groups, including the German Federation of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) and European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), have filed complaints and lawsuits against these airlines, claiming that their policies violate EU passenger rights rules. These cases are currently pending in German courts.
In response to these complaints, the EU Parliament recently voted on new regulations that legally permit passengers to bring one small carry-on bag up to 7 kg into the cabin for free on flights within the EU. This new law aims to end extra fees and unclear baggage policies from budget airlines.
Despite resistance from some airlines, this new EU law is expected to take effect imminently and help secure consistent, transparent rights for air travelers. For instance, Lufthansa, a network airline, includes a bag and a small suitcase in the ticket price for connecting passengers, but charges for cabin baggage on direct flights can range from 6 to 75 euros per bag.
The vzbv has warned several airlines, including Norwegian Air, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Easyjet, Wizz, and Vueling, about their hand luggage policy. Lawsuits have been filed against Easyjet, Wizz, and Vueling in German courts.
The debate about what constitutes "reasonable hand luggage" remains a contentious issue, as the relevant EU regulations remain vague. Industry associations such as A4E at the European level reject additional rules, while the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) continue to push for enforcement of free hand luggage rights under EU law.
Airbus estimates that installing larger overhead bins can generate an additional $500,000 in revenue per aircraft, but the company claims that there's enough space for everyone in their baggage compartments and can install them retroactively. The exact cabin configuration and pricing for additional services remain the decision of the airlines.
In summary, while legal disputes persist in courts, the new EU legislation is now in place to reinforce free hand luggage rights and curb unfair fees by airlines, signaling a significant shift in favor of consumers. Air travelers can look forward to more consistent and transparent baggage policies in the near future.
Travelers within the EU can anticipate a change in their lifestyle due to the new EU legislation, which prohibits airlines from charging extra fees for a small carry-on bag up to 7 kg in flights within the EU. This adjustment results from ongoing complaints and legal actions filed by consumer groups, highlighting the need for transparent and fair baggage policies in air travel.
