The Airline Association (ALA) considers that this “will harm consumers” by removing the option for passengers to purchase exactly what they need. Therefore, those who travel only with luggage under the seat “could not benefit” from lower costs. Facua also explains that the biggest sanction has been handed out to Ryanair, the first of these companies to start charging for hand luggage in November 2018.
It is followed by Vueling and “at a much greater distance” by easyJet and Volotea. These are the first fines imposed by the Spanish government’s consumer authority since it took over sanctioning powers in May 2022 following the modification of the general law for the defence of consumers. In addition, the penalties “are also the highest ever applied by an authority” for consumer protection, according to Facua, which stresses that the one imposed on Ryanair “multiplies by far” the highest penalties.
In June 2023, consumer affairs opened proceedings to investigate whether these practices were abusive or unfair and whether they contravened consumer regulations. The airlines can appeal these sanctions. In the meantime, Ryanair has warned "passengers travelling through UK airports" this summer that a strict rule "still applies.
Ryanair has written to holidaymakers jetting off from the UK for spring and summer holidays this year, urging them to take note. The airline wrote: "Dear [customer name], We want to remind passengers that despite upcoming changes to the r.