More airlines are charging passengers extra for hand luggage. However, court cases are now showing this is illegal, spurring calls for airlines to refund passengers for unlawfully paid hand luggage fees and stop charging additional costs.
Major airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizzair, Vueling and Volotea have started charging passengers extra – between €6 and €75 – for hand luggage. Consumer protection organisation Test Achats and its umbrella organisation Euroconsumers have argued that the method of invoicing is often problematic, as these charges are generally indicated at the end of the ticket reservation process, meaning consumers cannot compare the real prices transparently.
"Secondly, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that hand luggage of a reasonable size should be considered a necessary aspect of passenger transport and therefore should not give rise to additional charges," Test Achats spokesperson Laura Clays said. "Hand luggage is not a luxury item and should not be treated as such."
Still, passengers face additional charges. Last month, Test Achats filed a complaint against four of the airlines for these baggage fees.
Taking legal action
Spain's Consumer Ministry also confirmed the practice is illegal and fined several airlines for charging exorbitant extra fees for hand luggage.
In the wake of this ruling, Test Achats and Euroconsumers have officially contacted the four airlines to ask them to stop charging the extra fees and to refund duped passengers. "If this does not happen, we will have no choice but to take legal action," Clays said.
The organisation is asking passengers to keep all proof of payment for these illegal charges so they can receive a refund. Affected passengers can also sign a form on its website to possibly join legal proceedings.
"Today, we are extending this complaint to other charges levied by airlines, including extra fees for accompanying minors or people with disabilities, unclear fees for correcting typing errors and unlawful fees for cancelling a trip," Clays concluded.
