The Government sanctions four low-cost airlines with 150 million for charging for hand luggage
He Ministry of Consumer Affairs has imposed on four airlines – Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet and Volotea – a fine of 150 million of euros for charging passengers for hand luggage, after complaints received by different consumer associations, including Facua, as reported by Cadena SER.
Sources from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs have confirmed to EFE that in the summer of 2023, files were opened against four low-cost airlines due to the complaints received, to investigate practices considered abusive.
These included charging a supplement for adjacent seat reservation to accompany minors and dependent people; lack of transparency in the pre-contractual information about the final price of the service; charge a extra for hand luggage of passengers, and not allow cash payment at the airport for these or other additional services.
The sanction can be appealed, and once this avenue has been exhausted, the companies can go to court, indicates the same source.
The Association of Airlines (ALA), which brings together 85% of air traffic in Spain, has rejected the decision of Consumer Affairs, which implies prohibiting the charging of cabin luggage by some airlines.
In a statement, ALA points out that this will harm consumers, “by suppressing the option of passengers to hire exactly what they need.”
In this way, the nearly 50 million passengers who today do not carry a cabin suitcase on board and only travel with hand luggage under the seat could not benefit from paying only for essential services, “obliging them to hire services that they don’t use.”
From Facua they value the Consumer decision and remember that consumers have the right to claim the refund of these extra charges.
