To book a flight you first have to make the journey, reach the airport, check in your luggage and have your tickets ready. Now imagine the same thing playing out but instead you have accumulated multiple hidden costs to make sure everything is in place. This is how many consumers are feeling in regards to the practices of several airlines adding said hidden costs to the luggage handling process.
What does this mean financially?
A recent survey conducted by Which? found that a number of airlines including Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air misled customers with the prices listed on their websites and the actual charges. Their studies show that in over 1,500 flights, each airline did not give a specific accurate price range for luggage handling. Which? claims that the standard cabin bag was listed for €0 on Wizz Air’s website and that it was in fact a misprint as it should be offered for €10, even though Wizz Air’s website lists them as free.
In addition, their investigations yielded EasyJet’s lowest price of £5.99 for a standard cabin bag, which is a contrast to the average price offered at £30, at five times higher than the lowest cost alternative.
What does this mean legally?
This is not the first time something like this has happened. Between 2019 and 2024, the Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry fined five low cost airlines (including Ryanair and EasyJet) for close to €180m (£150m) over irresponsible luggage handling.
In June of this year, the European parliamentary transport committee voted in favour of taking standard luggage on any airlines travelling to and from Europe free of charge.
It should be in the best interest of these airlines to deliver consistent effort to satisfy consumer expectations, with minimal threat of legal action being taken, and the first step reflecting that should be seen in the fixed cost of airline luggage handling.
How does this pricing for luggage handling make you feel? Leave your comments on this page!
