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BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, said the seven airlines are 'exploiting consumers'. Alamy Stock Photo

Calls for EU investigation into seven airlines - including Ryanair - for unfair hand luggage fees

While Ryanair described its personal bag allowance as ‘generous’, it is smaller than all the other airlines targeted by the action.

AN UMBRELLA GROUP for European consumer organisations has called for an EU-wide investigation into seven airlines – including Ryanair – for charging “undue fees” for hand baggage.

BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, this week filed a complaint to the European Commission and the EU’s Consumer Protection Network against the seven airlines for “exploiting consumers”.

Agustín Reyna, Director General of BEUC, said the airlines are “ignoring the EU top court who ruled that charging reasonably sized hand baggage is illegal”.

In addition to Ryanair, the other airlines targeted include Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizzair.

BEUC said that both EU law and associated case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) entitle consumers to fly with reasonably sized hand baggage without additional costs.

However, it said many airlines “continue to impose additional fees on consumers for this service”.

It noted that last year, the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs imposed fines on airlines for a total of €179m in relation to fees on hand baggage.

While BEUC acknowledges that the decision was issued in Spain and mainly applies to consumers in Spain, similar practices by the same airlines and others are still taking place across Europe.

Reyna said this court decision in Spain “made clear that passengers can bring their reasonably sized hand baggage onboard at no additional cost”.

BEUC also accused airlines of using “different and inconsistent wording” in relation to luggage in order to “mislead consumers”.

Meanwhile, the CEJU has ruled that baggage that is not checked in must be considered as a necessary item for passengers and there should not be subject to a price supplement if it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions.

Elsewhere, Reyna remarked that data from BEUC shows that consumers “expect to see a small item and a piece of hand luggage when buying basic tickets”.

“Policymakers should define hand luggage’s ‘reasonable size and weight’ to avoid surprises at the airport and ultimately reduce the number of disputes costing consumers and airlines time and money,” he added.

In a statement to The Journal, a Ryanair spokesperson said the airline “welcomed the filing of this complaint to the EU Commission, which will confirm that Ryanair’s bags policy fully complies with EU Law, which grants all EU airlines the freedom to set prices”.

Ryanair allows each passenger to carry a 40 x 25 x 20 cm personal bag on board for free as part of its basic air fare, with the option to add extra bags for an extra fee starting at €30 per flight, and €60 if done at the airport.

While Ryanair described its personal bag allowance as “generous”, it is smaller than all the other airlines targeted by BEUC.

“If airlines were forced to include additional carry-on bags as part of the basic fare, it would reduce choice and drive-up air fares for all passengers, which would harm consumers,” said Ryanair.

Ryanair also hit out at online travel agents, who the spokesperson said “continue to induce unsuspecting consumers into paying unjustified hidden mark-ups for flights that cost much less when booked directly on airlines’ websites”.

“Outlawing these harmful OTA overcharges and enforcing transparency in OTA pricing would be a much better use of BEUC and its members’ resources,” said Ryanair.

Meanwhile, A4E (Airlines for Europe) claimed the action by BEUc “would decrease consumer choice and oblige all passengers to pay for additional services that they may not all need”.

It added that the decision of the Spanish Consumer Protection Agency on cabin bags is currently under appeal and the European Commission is looking into whether it complies with EU law.

 

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27 Comments
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    Mute Ailbhe MacThomais
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:39 AM

    If EU travel wide passenger flying regulations are widely ignored by some of the airlines as regarded luggage sizes. Then should the airlines either be fined or have their licencee revoked to put down a defined marker as regards people’s travel rights.

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    Mute Deano74
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:32 AM

    Seen it last week in Birmingham airport,the guy in front put his small case in the stand,didn’t put it in straight,one side over the top of stand,60 pound on the spot,if he had of adjusted it would of fit ok,he looked like he had a few drinks and probably didn’t want to argue.

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    Mute Nick Gall
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:41 AM

    Buy cheap, expect cheap.

    73
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    Mute Ran
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    May 23rd 2025, 1:35 PM

    @Nick Gall: You are a prime example of why marketing depts exist.

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    Mute Kevin O Brien
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:53 AM

    Stop flying to Israel Ryan air

    71
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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    May 23rd 2025, 6:18 PM

    @Kevin O Brien: they have.

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    Mute Des Daly
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    May 23rd 2025, 6:43 PM

    @Kevin O Brien: they never did

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    Mute You Cant Be Serious
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    May 24th 2025, 9:21 PM

    @Des Daly: yea they did- check your facts, just temporarily suspended but they might now get out

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    Mute Furious George - The Wasp
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:32 AM

    They are going to start weighing people. Just wait and see
    Got done for 60 euro at the gate, I had been checked in by another person as non priority. What a shame

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:41 AM

    @Furious George – The Wasp: If oversized cars are a problem, the next natural step is people.

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    Mute Deano74
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:52 AM

    @Furious George – The Wasp: A guy a few years back going to a rugby match,was told he would have to buy a second seat because of his size,he did,when he got on,one seat was up one end of the plane,the other down the far end, ridiculous money grabbing.

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    Mute Fred North
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    May 23rd 2025, 10:59 AM

    @Deano74: that ‘story’ was one of the sketches on an episode of ‘come fly with me’ stop talking dung good ladeen

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    Mute Deano74
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    May 23rd 2025, 11:05 AM

    @Fred North: no seriously,the guy was interviewed on one of the evening news channels,article also in the herald I think at the time,a good ten twelve years ago.

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    Mute Fat Bear
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    May 23rd 2025, 12:15 PM

    Ypu don’t get charged for luggage on a train or bus

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    Mute Andrew Harrington
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    May 23rd 2025, 4:38 PM

    @Fat Bear: It’s difficult holding your breath under water.

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    Mute You Cant Be Serious
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    May 24th 2025, 9:22 PM

    @Fat Bear: you can do

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    May 23rd 2025, 4:19 PM

    It always amazes me the amount of luggage people try to bring with them on short breaks. I have no sympathy for them clogging up aisles queues and cafes@

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    Mute Pat Clancy
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    May 23rd 2025, 12:55 PM

    I was charged extra for a small suitcase that I had used almost a hundred times because the wheels were slightly outside the measuring stand . The woman who said it was oversized was the rudest person I have met who’s job was interacting with people.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    May 23rd 2025, 4:26 PM

    @Pat Clancy: you would have been within your rights to smash up the desk and give it back to them. They don’t act so tough then I tell you.

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    Mute Kylie More-Rode - Ballyer Drag Queen
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    May 23rd 2025, 12:27 PM

    Did u see how RyanAir now have XL seats for fatties at €11 extra each? Do they have increased prices for Pringles etc if u sit in a fattie seat?

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    Mute Be Lucky
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    May 23rd 2025, 11:14 AM

    There should be a seat kept at the boarding gate if you’re bag can’t fit under it you can’t board or you pay a loading fee.

    Also there should be a fixed price for luggage it ridiculous it can go up in price.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    May 23rd 2025, 11:07 AM

    Hopefully they lock up O’Leary the gangster ripping off the elderly and disabled

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    Mute You Cant Be Serious
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    May 24th 2025, 9:24 PM

    @Basildon Joe: are you part of that cohort?

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    Mute richard gibbons
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    May 23rd 2025, 7:56 PM

    I do not get it! Flying on a cheap fare airline means you make a conscious decision to travel under their rules if you want to pay no more on top of the ticket price. So you have a choice, you make the choice and you accept the choice which leaves you little ground to whinge. If you want to fly to somewhere you can either pay for a more expensive ticket on a not cheap fares airline or pay for a cheap ticket on a cheap fares airline and then accept their rules but either way you have the freedom to make a choice as no none is forcing you.

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