Spain: airlines sanctioned for abusive practices such as charging for carry-on luggage

01-06-24

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has imposed a historic fine of 150 million euros on Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet and Volotea for abusive practices, including charging for hand luggage. These penalties are in response to consumer complaints and also concern additional charges for booking adjacent seats to accompany minors and dependents, lack of contractual transparency and non-acceptance of cash payments. The airlines may appeal the sanction.

The investigation began in the summer of 2023, following multiple complaints from consumer associations. Facua and OCU, two of the main consumer associations in Spain, have celebrated the sanction as a significant victory for the protection of users' rights. Facua pointed out that they had been fighting against these practices for almost six years, while the OCU recalled the numerous complaints filed over the years.