The clash over hand luggage continues unabated. The story is known and concerns millions of travellers, Italians and non-Italians, who use low cost airlines also and above all to save on luggage: Ryanair has decided that for all bookings made from 10 November onwards on one of its flights, passengers they will also have to pay for hand luggage of up to 31 kilos which was included in the price until XNUMX October.
However, neither consumers nor the Antitrust authority liked this choice which, after accepting a complaint from Codacons, wants the suspension of what it considers an unfair commercial practice. Now the Irish low-cost airline has nine days to respond to the complaints and to assert its position. And Wizz Air, the Hungarian low-cost airline, which has followed Ryanair in this commercial policy, has also ended up in the Authority's sights.
The Irish airline is contested that the new policy launched at the end of August does not include the transport of hand luggage in the cost of the ticket - for which a supplement of €8 to €10 must be added - but only the possibility of bringing a small bag on board of dimensions 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.
According to the Antitrust Authority, the legislation in force "would provide a false representation of the real cost of the air ticket through the ex ante separation from the fare of a non-possible but foreseeable charge, the transport of the trolley that has been permitted up to now, misleading the average consumer about the actual price of the transport service offered”. Reason why "the conduct would therefore appear suitable to alter the tariff transparency required in order not to mislead consumers and to compare the offers of the different carriers".
"Thousands of travelers have bombarded us with calls and messages to protest the extra payment, not due according to our Organization and other consumer associations in Europe, with which we are taking Ryanair to court", comments Ivo Tarantino, external relations manager of Other consumption.
