Not only do air travellers in Europe have to submit to stupid and humiliating ‘security’ regulations, but we are now being ripped off right left and centre by the airlines. I have written about how I have failed to get a sensible response from easyJet about a case that was damaged when I flew with them two months ago. Now it transpires that their charges for baggage (eighteen euros per bag with easyJet, if I remember right) are not only exorbitant but illegal. The Spanish consumers association FACUA is taking Clickair, easyJet, Vueling and Ryanair to court over this issue (here, Spanish), my translation:
Spain’s Law 48/1960, of 21 July, on Air Navigation establishes in article 97 “the carrier shall be obliged to transport baggage together with the passengers, and included in the price of the ticket, with the weight and volume limits set by the Regulations. The excess shall be the object of special conditions”. The rule goes on to say that “for these purposes hand-carried objects and packages that the traveller carries with himself or herself shall not be regarded as baggage”
The charge for baggage is also an abusive clause as it implies “price increases for accessory services … that do not correspond to additional provisions” according to article 89.5 of the amended text of the General Law for the Defence of Consumers and Users (Legislative Royal Decree 1/2007, of 16 November).
This last point is especially interesting. A couple of years ago Liverpool John Lennon airport tried to introduce a charge of £2.00 per departing passenger for ‘security’. easyJet hit the roof. They pointed out that their contract with the airport included security services and that the airport had no right to make any separate charge. The publicity was bad (as were the airport’s chances in any court case) and the charge was dropped. Now easyJet is acting the same way itself by charging a small fortune to carry a suitcase in the first place, and then ignoring passengers who claim for their damaged luggage.
13-7-08
Pamela Heywood kindly mentions this post on her blog where she describes her experiences with Thomas Cook. I am very happy to return the favour.
Recent Comments