Spanish consumer organisation Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios, or OCU, is taking legal action against Ryanair over the airline’s policy of charging for hand luggage.
In a statement, OCU said that its action is a ‘test case’ to have this charge declared ‘abusive’ of consumer rights, in line with regulations passed by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda.
The case, filed with Spain’s national court, seeks to prevent Ryanair from continuing to impose these charges.
During 2024, OCU received 1,139 complaints about the airline through its online platform Reclamar, with 248 of these complaints specifically concerning charges for hand luggage. Contractual disputes were the main reason for complaints filed with the organisation.
Airline fines
The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda recently imposed fines totalling €179 million on a number of airlines, including Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, Norwegian, and Volotea, for various practices, most notable of which was charging a supplement for carrying hand luggage.
Other practices to draw the ire of the ministry included charging for seat reservations to sit next to minors or dependents, failing to disclose the full price of services before purchase, prohibiting cash payments at airports and on board, and imposing a €20 fee for reprinting boarding passes at the airport.
Imposing surcharges
‘Unfortunately, the affected airlines have appealed the fine imposed in court, which will allow them to continue imposing these surcharges,’ the OCU has said. ‘Now, in order to expedite the resolution of the dispute and benefit all affected consumers, OCU has filed a ‘trial lawsuit’ against Ryanair to confirm in court the abusive nature of the surcharge imposed for carrying hand luggage […] unless proven for safety reasons due to the type of aircraft.’
OCU is also recommending that airline customers file complaints about the invalidity of these surcharges, and those who have already done so should retain the documents reflecting these abuses in order to pursue them in court if necessary. Read more here.
