Ryanair fees not permitted: money back for customers

There are also storage fees for luggage or administration fees for refunds. The additional fees were often more expensive than the flight itself, according to a press release Association for Consumer Information (VKI)who brought the lawsuit against the low-cost airline on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Non-transparent

The clauses are not only opaque, but they also become consumers severely disadvantagedcan be read in the OGH ruling. Because the airline claimed to be able to charge the additional fees even if the reason for this was its fault. Some of the clauses are like this incomprehensible and contradictory formulated that it was hardly possible to understand them, according to the court.

“The ruling is a strong sign of price transparency and fair competition. The OGH makes it clear that additional fees must be presented transparently and must not unfairly disadvantage consumers,” commented Petra Leupoldhead of intervention at the VKI, the judge’s verdict.

Refund possible

According to the VKI, affected customers can claim the fee back. The consumer advocates provide a corresponding sample letter at verbraucherrecht.at. However, Ryanair denied the obligation to retroactively reimburse the fees to the Reuters news agency.

The VKI says that compliance with the judgment will be ensured if necessary Execution proceedings VKI lawyer Leupold does not want to rule out test cases and class actions against the airline in a statement to KURIER. Ryanair is no longer allowed to charge the corresponding fees based on the illegal clauses.