2023-10-07 00:10:00
The European Parliament made a request to airlines regarding the regulation of hand luggage, which travelers can take with them in the cabin of the plane.
(Read: How much will the Etias permit cost for Colombians in 2024?).
The important adjustment they pose for hand luggage
Airlines in Europe, like the rest of the world, have their rules for hand and checked baggage. Some, such as the ‘low cost’ ones, require their users to pay for the carry-on suitcase.
The European Parliament voted in favor of a resolution to make such luggage free and, in addition, to standardize the dimensions in the European Union.
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MEPs considered a court’s ruling in 2014 following a lawsuit filed by a woman against the airline Vueling, which forced her to pay for carrying a suitcase in the cabin.
The Court ruled in favor of the passenger, arguing that cabin luggage is “an indispensable element” that “cannot be subject to a price supplement, as long as it meets the weight and dimension requirements.”
The European Parliament calls for adjustments to baggage rules.
The European Parliament asks that the countries that make up the European Union “guarantee respect for this ruling” and, until this happens, ensure that they “strengthen consumer protection” by doing “everything possible to achieve transparency” of airlines when communicating possible fees charged for hand luggage.
Apart from questioning the States, the European Parliament also asks the European Commission to “present strategic measures” so that the CJEU ruling is reflected in a renewed community regulation of commercial aviation, after it undergoes a review process. .
(Keep reading: Etias Permit: for which countries this requirement applies and what you should know).
The approved resolution recognizes that airlines enjoy “freedom in pricing” for tickets, but considers that the European commercial aviation regulations do not cover the cost of cabin bags under this principle of freedom.
Airlines respond if they would leave hand luggage free
The demands of the European Parliament were not well received by the airlines, as they recalled that it is a non-binding resolution, so they are not obliged to change their baggage policies.
“Commercial practices such as charging for baggage in the cabin are perfectly legal and are protected by European Regulation 1008/2008, which establishes the freedom to set fares,” said the Airlines Association for the Spanish newspaper La Sexta.
According to airlines, there is not room on a plane to accommodate all of travelers’ carry-on bags.
(Read: Do you want to travel to Spain? These are the requirements to enter from Colombia).
The union also recalled that due to an “operational issue” the planes cannot receive all the passengers’ carry-on bags, since the space in the cabin is limited.
“Neither the European Commission nor Parliament can expand the space available for luggage on a plane, so not all passengers will be able to carry a suitcase,” said Eddie Wilson, CEO of the airline Ryanair, for the media La Información.
Therefore, it will be the European Commission that will review whether or not to modify the rules that govern airlines.
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*With information from EFE
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