The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 16 member groups from 12 countries, including Belgium's Testachats, have lodged a complaint against seven airlines for allegedly charging unlawful fees for hand luggage.
The airlines in question are EasyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air.
The organisations are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the business practices of these airlines and the industry as a whole. The complaint was lodged with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC).
"Today, we are taking action again against seven airlines that disregard the ruling of the EU’s highest court, which deemed it illegal to charge for reasonably sized hand luggage," said Julie Frère, spokesperson for Testachats.
She highlighted that recent airline fines in Spain have reiterated that passengers can board with reasonably sized hand luggage without incurring additional charges.
Since May 2024, Testachats has filed three complaints with the Economic Inspection concerning hand luggage fees and has recently initiated legal action against Ryanair.
'Fully complies with EU law'
Ryanair said it "welcomed the filing of this false claims injunction" by the BEUC. The company added that the injunction will confirm that its booking flow pricing and bags policies are "transparent and fully comply with EU law, which grants all EU airlines the freedom to set prices, including prices of optional services."
Additionally, the company dismissed some of Testachats' claims, stating that all prices are clearly displayed – designed in line with EU pricing freedom laws. "The option to buy flights and other ancillary products in a bundle, provides additional convenience for consumers and is again, fully transparent and lawful, and is standard practice across the transport industry, including bus and train services."
Ryanair also stressed that it allows each passenger to carry a "generous (40x25x20 cm) personal bag" on board for free, as part of its basic air fare. "With the option to add extra bags for an optional fee, should they so wish."
According to Ryanair, its policy promotes low fares and consumer choice. "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."
Ryanair is one of the airlines charging extra for hand luggage. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
The company also referred to the 2014 precedent ruling of the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) in the 'Vueling' case, which established that airlines are entitled to charge fees for the carriage of checked bags and extra cabin baggage on top of the free personal cabin baggage included in basic fares.
However, Testachats' lawsuit at no point suggests that Ryanair should include extra carry-on bags as part of its 'basic' fare or that it is not entitled to charge fees for checked bags and extra cabin baggage, only that it should allow for "reasonably-sized" hand luggage.
For comparison, Brussels Airlines allows passengers to carry significantly larger bags (55x40x23 cm) as hand luggage than Ryanair. Other low-cost airlines also allow larger bags than Ryanair: EasyJet applies 45x36x20 cm dimensions, but even WizzAir and Vueling allow for slightly larger bags (40x30x20 cm).
This article was updated at 12:30 to include Ryanair's reaction to the complaint.
