EU CONSUMERS' GROUP FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST 7 AIRLINES OVER HAND LUGGAGE FEES

BRUSSELS • Europe's leading consumer organization, BEUC, along with 16 affiliated groups from 12 countries, has filed a complaint with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network. The complaint targets seven airlines – Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizzair – for allegedly imposing unjustified surcharges on hand luggage. This action follows a 2014 European Court of Justice ruling that deemed such additional charges illegal for reasonably sized carry-on bags.

Brussels, May 21, 2025 – 2:40 PM – The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC, from its French acronym), alongside 16 affiliated organizations from 12 countries, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network. The complaint is directed against seven airlines (Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizzair) for applying undue surcharges to consumers for hand luggage.

BEUC's Complaint: "A European-Level Investigation is Needed"

"We are calling for a European-level investigation into the commercial practices of the airlines concerned and the sector in general," stated the association. "Haven't we all experienced the fear that our hand luggage wouldn't fit into the airline's size gauges and that we would be charged extra costs? Today, we are taking action against seven airlines that are exploiting consumers and disregarding the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which states that it is illegal to charge extra for reasonably sized hand luggage. This has been confirmed by recent fines imposed in Spain, which made it clear that passengers can bring their reasonably sized hand luggage on board without additional costs," commented Agustín Reyna, Deputy Director General of BEUC.

Call to Revise Ticket Pricing

"In addition to our action at European level, the ongoing revision of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation is the perfect opportunity for the EU to clarify which services should be included in the basic ticket price. Our data shows that consumers expect to be able to bring a small personal item and a carry-on bag when they purchase a basic ticket," the association continued, adding: "Policymakers should also define 'reasonable size and weight' for hand luggage to avoid surprises at the airport and, ultimately, reduce the number of disputes that cost consumers and airlines time and money," BEUC added. The association recalled that the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that "the carriage of hand luggage cannot be subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions and complies with applicable safety standards."