The European Parliament urges the EU to approve common rules on the size and price of hand luggage on planes | Economy | EUROtoday

The European Parliament has known as this Wednesday for unified rules all through the EU on the size and price of hand luggage on planes, recalling that one of the points that “most concerns passengers” are the “incoherent policies” on this regard, which They trigger “confusion” and even “delays”, in accordance to the MEPs. The decision accredited in Strasbourg will not be binding, that’s, it has no extra weight than exerting political stress on the European Commission and the Member States, as the airways have rapidly recalled.

The absence of a common regulation on baggage allowance in the cabin leads to hidden charges and makes it tough to examine costs when buying aircraft tickets, denounce the MEPs, who accredited the decision in a present of arms throughout the plenary session of the European Parliament in its headquarters in Strasbourg. “Different and divergent” insurance policies on the size and weight of carry-on luggage “often lead to confusion, inconvenience, less comfortable travel experiences, delays, and sometimes conflicts between passengers and airline staff,” it notes. the decision, offered by Dolors Montserrat, MEP of the PP, president of the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament that has processed this demand.

“Travelers need to be sure that our luggage meets the required requirements, regardless of the company we choose or the country of destination,” Montserrat stated in an announcement.

The non-binding textual content calls on States to “ensure respect” for a 2014 ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) on a Vueling baggage check-in surcharge. In this ruling, the Luxembourg judges dominated in favor of the firm low price Spanish concerning the surcharge for checked-in baggage. But – and that is the half that MEPs now need to standardize – they identified at the similar time that “hand luggage must be considered, in principle, an indispensable element of passenger transport”, so “it cannot be of a price supplement, provided that said luggage meets reasonable requirements regarding its weight and dimensions and complies with the applicable security requirements. The non-binding resolution calls on the Twenty-seven to enforce this ruling and, in the meantime, to “do everything possible to achieve transparency when communicating possible fees charged for hand luggage, provided that it is provided information on the price and schedules of a flight, in order to strengthen consumer protection.”

Aware that they cannot force States to comply with these requirements, MEPs call on the European Commission to take advantage of the review of current legislation on air services, for which it opened a public consultation last year, “to assure compliance.” of the CJEU ruling.” They also ask that legislative changes address other “hidden costs” in airfares, such as those applied by seat selection.

The Association of Airlines (ALA) has quickly responded to the European Parliament’s demand, which it has recalled is not binding, so “corporations aren’t obliged to change their baggage coverage.” In statements to the Europa Press agency, the airline employers’ association has insisted that practices such as charging for baggage in the cabin “are completely authorized” and “reply to the precept of giving customers the capacity to select.”

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