How funds airline baggage confusion triggered EU authorized row | EUROtoday

Determined to keep away from baggage charges for his vacation to Pisa, Benjamin Till trawled a number of completely different outlets armed with a tape measure looking for the best suitcase.

Eventually, he discovered a case inside the dimensions EasyJet permits for a free underseat bag – or so he thought.

When Mr Till arrived at London Gatwick Airport in December 2023, he found these measurements included wheels, that means his bag was deemed barely too massive.

He protested, however ultimately paid £48 to convey the bag on board. He says he was instructed to take away the wheels for the best way again – which he did.

But on the gate on his approach dwelling, he was instructed the suitcase was nonetheless too giant, so he sat on the ground, unpacking his soiled underwear and souvenirs right into a bin bag.

“I don’t mind admitting that I actually burst into tears because it was so humiliating,” he says.

An EasyJet spokesperson instructed the BBC its floor crew had to make sure non-checked baggage have been inside most dimensions “to safely and securely fit”, and that guidelines have been made clear to clients once they booked.

Stories of passengers caught out by baggage guidelines they really feel are inconsistent or complicated are widespread, with many purchasers complaining or looking for readability from funds airways on social media.

Different airways have various guidelines on the suitable dimension and weight of an underseat private merchandise or an overhead cabin bag, with some charging clients to convey the latter.

For individuals who fall foul of those guidelines, some airways cost hefty charges to improve a bag from a free private merchandise to an overhead cabin bag on the airport gate, or to stow an outsized cabin bag within the maintain.

Passenger confusion has prompted the European Union’s largest shopper group to push for fairer and extra constant hand baggage guidelines, and prompted one authorities to start out cracking down on airways over bag expenses.

The EU is now taking a look at altering its legal guidelines – modifications which might additionally have an effect on UK passengers who’re travelling to or from an EU vacation spot utilizing an EU-based airline.

On Thursday, EU transport ministers proposed standardised sizing without spending a dime underseat baggage on EU airways, amongst different air journey and passenger rights’ modifications – that means this might turn out to be EU legislation if their place is accepted by the European Parliament.

Budget airways say their baggage insurance policies adjust to the legislation whereas conserving fares low, however they’ve been dealing with mounting stress and requires change.

EU transport ministers proposed that passengers must be assured one free private merchandise, measuring as much as 40x30x15cm (together with wheels and handles) – or which may fairly match underneath a airplane seat.

These guidelines would apply to EU-based airways (corresponding to Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet), together with when they’re carrying passengers from a non-EU nation just like the UK to an EU nation and vice-versa, however not third-party airways.

New guidelines would add readability to an EU courtroom ruling from 11 years in the past, which acknowledged hand baggage shouldn’t be topic to an additional charge, supplied it met “reasonable” weight and dimensions, however didn’t say what affordable was.

Currently, Ryanair permits a free carry-on bag of 40x20x25cm, whereas EasyJet’s dimensions for a free bag are a extra beneficiant 45x36x20 cm, together with wheels and handles.

The ministers’ proposal was silent, nevertheless, on the difficulty of whether or not airways may cost for overhead cabin baggage – that means that if their proposal was adopted into legislation, the present scenario wouldn’t change and airways may maintain charging for that sort of hand baggage, which some in Europe have lobbied to cease.

The European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, an umbrella group for 45 unbiased shopper organisations from 32 nations, believes Thursday’s proposals don’t go far sufficient, and legitimise “charging for reasonably sized hand luggage”.

In November, 5 airways have been fined a complete of €179m (£150m) in Spain for “abusive” practices, together with charging for hand baggage. Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry mentioned on the time that it deliberate to ban charging additional for carry-on baggage and different insurance policies.

The airways had mentioned they’d enchantment the choice.

Regarding expenses for overheard cabin baggage, Ryanair mentioned it absolutely complied with EU legislation in its coverage, which permits one small bag on board freed from cost.

“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,” the airline mentioned.

Industry group Airlines For Europe mentioned charging completely different quantities relying on baggage “allows passengers to choose the exact services that best suits their needs”.

Hand baggage dimensions must be common, says Jane Hawkes, a shopper professional specialising in journey.

“I don’t really see why it can’t be, and why they can’t come to a voluntary agreement as to what those requirements should be for your baggage,” she tells the BBC.

“There have to be restrictions, obviously, but a one-size-fits-all kind of approach would make it a lot simpler for passengers,” she says.

BEUC mentioned policymakers ought to outline what “reasonable” dimension and weight was “to avoid surprises at the airport and ultimately reduce the number of disputes costing consumers and airlines time and money”.

Ms Hawkes suggests passengers make certain they measure their bag after it’s packed, as it might broaden when it’s full and go over the restrict.

She provides that buyers mustn’t simply be swayed by the fare worth, as “if you’ve got an airline that encompasses [baggage] without you having to pay extra costs to start with, then that might be more of a better option for you”.

Mr Till would welcome a one-size-fits-all strategy to underseat baggage.

“It’s just really, really unfair and ridiculous and there should be one size that goes across all of the airlines,” he says.

He additionally criticises the permitted dimension of underseat cabin baggage, saying “it was such a tiny, tiny size of luggage that you were allowed that it had taken me so long to find something that was so small”.

Still, he was grateful for the cheap air fare, and the place he needed to keep in Italy, as a result of “otherwise I wouldn’t be able to come to this beautiful country”.