On wheels, rectangular, red, black or yellow, they line up in an onion rank in this leather goods in the center of Paris. “Are all cabin baggage?” “Asks a customer aged about fifty, the air relaxed with his colorful shirt and his big smile.
Here, future vacationers stroll through the aisles in search of the suitable suitcase to avoid the additional cost on the day of departure. Ryanair, Transavia, Vueling… The main low-cost companies charge the cabin baggage, those that are taking with you on the plane. And each has its policy concerning the maximum authorized size and its overcharging price when we exceed these dimensions.
Last year, Spain inflicted fines in the amount of 179 million euros on low -cost airlines Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian and Volotea due, among other things, of these additional costs, deemed abusive.
New action at the end of May, this time on a continent: the European Office of Consumer Unions (BEUC), which brings together around fifteen associations, asked the European Commission an investigation into luggage billing policy.
“Take a canvas bag of the tote bag type, it allows you to flatten it”
“Fortunately, this year I am leaving with Air France, but with low -cost companies, we have to stay on our guard,” says Arsène, 51 years old. For some travelers, it turns into anxiety. “Does this pass under the siege?” »Simona, 40 years old. Then everyone goes with his advice, like Paloma, a saleswoman in the shop, who advises: “Take a canvas bag of the tote bag type, it allows it to flatten it or put things on the body at the last moment if it does not pass in the template. »»
For Timothe, the cold shower took place on the return from a trip to Dublin operated with Ryanair. “You have to pay 60 euros!” He groans, imitating the steward. Amazement of the 25 -year -old technician. It was at the time of the last verification of the tickets: “On the flight, I was not asked for anything,” said the Mosellan. “The bag barely exceeded a centimeter. »»
Currently, the Irish company accepts the small bags for free, up to 40x25x20 cm. Beyond that, you have to pay between 6 and 36 euros-depending on the dates and the distance traveled-for a maximum cabin baggage of 55 x 40 x 20 cm. With Easyjet, it’s 7.99 euros for a suitcase or a bag that should not exceed 56x45x25 cm. The Norwegian airline invoices 11.99 to 29.99 euros for the cabin baggage of 55x40x23 cm.
A new European standard
Transavia has just changed policy. Since last year, only small handbags (40x30x20cm) have been free. They must be placed “necessarily under the seat” in front of the passenger. “We were the last company in the sector not to charge the cabin baggage, which penalized us in price comparators”, justifies the Low-Cost subsidiary of Air France.
Do you get lost? This confusion may soon be an end. Last month, despite the protests of Easyjet and Ryanair, the MEPs asked that all the airlines authorize the passengers to take away two cabin luggage on board. A measure still far from being adopted.
Without waiting for the result of this showdown, Airlines for Europe (A4E), an association which brings together around twenty European airlines, announced Wednesday a harmonization of the dimensions of the baggage that can be taken in the cabin.
From the end of the summer, a standard 40x30x15 cm format will be accepted on board at no additional cost. Objective: “bring more clarity to passengers across Europe”, according to Ourania Georgoutsakou, the director general of the A4E. Las, to stand out, Ryanair has already announced that his “personal luggage (free) (would) (would) be greater than European standard”. The difference will be size: 5 cm!