In recent months and years, an increasing number of airlines have discovered an additional source of income: they reduce the allowable hand luggage to a point where hardly anyone can comply, and then charge a hefty fee for items like cabin trolleys.
For example, with Wizz Air, it’s not uncommon for large hand luggage (Wizz Priority) to cost more than the flight itself. Condor takes this to an extreme by offering a Light fare even on long-haul flights with a ridiculous hand luggage allowance of 40 x 30 x 10 cm – not more than a laptop bag.
Fortunately, this could soon change. A parliamentary committee of the EU Parliament has published a proposal calling for the implementation of minimum standards for hand luggage regarding weight and dimensions. The resolution will be voted on this week, and after that, the drafting of relevant laws could begin.
The EU Parliament Proposal
The Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has examined this issue. This committee discusses petitions from citizens and, based on them, develops proposals for resolutions.
The current proposal references a 2014 ruling by the European Court of Justice. Back then, it was already decided that hand luggage must be transported for free unless there were security reasons against it:
[…] it should be noted that unchecked baggage, namely cabin baggage, should generally be considered an essential part of passenger transport, so that no additional charge should be made for its transport, provided that its weight and dimensions meet reasonable requirements and comply with the relevant safety regulations.
Case C-487/12, Court of Justice of the European Union
However, at that time, the primary question was whether checked baggage should generally be transported for free, which the court denied. Now, the section on hand luggage is becoming more and more significant, and this is what the EU Parliament is focusing on.
The committee correctly points out that with such hidden costs, it becomes increasingly difficult to conduct a transparent price comparison. Additionally, there is often arbitrary enforcement of the rules during inspections by personnel. Hence, EU-wide harmonization for the size, weight, and type of hand and checked baggage is now being sought.
In the meantime, that is, until standardization is implemented, airlines should be required to always mention the price that includes large hand luggage, in addition to the cheapest fare.
Vote on Wednesday
The published document is currently only a draft EU resolution. This will be put to a vote in the EU Parliament on Wednesday, October 4, between 12 and 1 PM.
If the resolution is adopted, the EU Commission will then deal with the issue. It will likely take at least another year or two before the corresponding minimum standards are actually adopted.
It’s not yet certain that it will indeed come to fruition. In 2013, the EU Parliament examined whether airlines could be obliged to carry at least two pieces of hand luggage (Personal Item + large hand luggage). This seems to have gone nowhere, but it was also before the aforementioned court decision.
Conclusion
The EU Parliament will vote on a resolution regarding hand luggage regulations in air travel on Wednesday. As a result, airlines could be obliged to carry hand luggage with specific dimensions and weight for free.
From my perspective, it’s high time for such legislation. Limiting hand luggage to ridiculously small sizes is just a loophole to conceal the actual price with taxes and fees. I welcome the EU’s initiative and hope it will be transformed into appropriate laws as soon as possible.
Source: EU-Parlament