The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has sanctioned four low-cost airlines with 150 million euros for abusive practices. This was reported by Onda Cero this Friday, news after which it is announced that the fine has been imposed on Ryanair, Volotea, EasyJet and Vueling.
The reasons why the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has made this decision are mainly based on committing some infractions against users. Some examples are the obligation to print the ticket before the flight or charging more for carrying hand luggage on board. The main objective of the sanctions is to "prevent them from happening again", they have pointed out from Consumer Affairs.
A measure carried out after complaints from several user associations, such as FACUA, which denounced in 2023 "abusive practices" by some low cost airlines. A petition that began to be analyzed by the General Directorate of Consumer Affairs, until this 2024 it has been resolved with a historic fine.
Practices sanctioned to airlines
The four practices, which Consumer Affairs has qualified as abusive and will be sanctioned, are the following:
- Charging for boarding hand luggage. Some airlines have decided to impose fees for boarding with a bag or backpack on the plane, despite not checking the luggage. A measure that is the main sanctioned infraction and that has been considered as "abusive".
- The disbursement for the seat selection when traveling with dependent people. These airlines have given separate seats to parents and young children, and decide to charge a surcharge when choosing that the child or dependent travels next to the adult. A measure sanctioned by the generation of a "damage to vulnerable people" who would be in a "situation of helplessness".
- The lack of transparency in the information when purchasing tickets. The sanctioning file has pointed out that often, the price that is initially offered gradually increases during the purchase process. A practice that leads to increasing the ease of comparing prices and making decisions by consumers.
- The obligation to print the ticket on paper, a measure carried out especially by Ryanair, in which it makes users pay 20 euros more for the service. The prohibition of cash payment in the purchase of tickets at airports is also contemplated.
After knowing the sanctions they face, airlines can appeal them, and once this route is exhausted, they can go to court. As Onda Cero has reported, the Airline Association (ALA) has rejected the sanctions imposed for reasons such as the prohibition of charging for cabin baggage.
For its part, the organization Facua-Consumers in Action has positively valued the Consumer Affairs measure and have recalled that "consumers have the right to claim the return of these extra charges".
