The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions has unanimously adopted a resolution calling on airlines to guarantee that passengers can carry cabin baggage free of charge. The resolution urges countries to guarantee respect for the ruling of the European Court of Justice
In particular, the PETI Committee voted this Wednesday on a resolution calling for the measurement and weight of suitcases to be harmonised so that all airlines operating in the EU use the same standards. The Jordi Cañas, who negotiated the text on behalf of the European liberals, said the resolution echoed the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which recognised that luggage in the cabin was an «essential element» of passenger transport. Despite the ruling, some airlines are still allowed to charge for hand luggage.
For this reason, the resolution urges countries to guarantee respect for the judgment of the European Court of Justice.
Pre-boarding fines
Currently, passengers who do not pay the additional costs required by some airlines are fined at the boarding gate for carrying hand baggage. The resolution, led by MEP Cañas, calls for an end to this illegal and abusive practice for the consumer.
Similarly, the text also asks the Commission to develop EU-wide legislation regulating the harmonisation of measurements and weight of cabin baggage, as this aspect is not detailed in the CJEU ruling. According to the text, the difference in standards between one airline and another entails additional hidden costs for passengers, which makes it difficult for the passenger to choose the best deal. This practice could be considered abusive, especially considering connecting flights and the possibility that a passenger will fly, on the same day, on different airlines, with different standards. In addition, it highlights other possible hidden costs such as seat assignment, which make it difficult for the consumer to know in advance the final cost of the ticket.
The resolution, adopted unanimously in the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, will be voted on in plenary in Strasbourg next October.