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Date Published: 14/03/2025

Spain takes Ryanair to court again over questionable hand luggage policies

Spain’s consumer watchdog believes budget airlines should stop charging for carry-on bags

Ryanair has once again been dragged up the courthouse steps by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), Spain’s version of the consumer watchdog, for unfairly charging passengers to take carry-on luggage on board for free.

The latest lawsuit seeks to have Ryanair’s baggage policy declared “abusive” by the courts and there’s a good chance it will be successful, since the Ministry of Social Rights only recently fined the airline and four other low-cost carriers €179 million for similar practices.

If the courts decide charging passengers for luggage is indeed abusive, then the OCU hopes the National Court will temporarily stop these airlines asking travellers to pay for their on-board bags.

The long-term goal, of course, is that passengers be allowed to carry more than the tiny bags currently permitted free of charge.

While this is all unfolding, the OCU recommends that all consumers complain about "the inadmissibility of these supplements" and, those who have already done so, keep the documents that "reflect these abuses so they can pursue them in court if necessary."

In 2024, the OCU received 1,139 complaints through the online platform Reclamar, with Ryanair topping the list for the most baggage-related issues, racking up a total of 248 grievances.

In other news: Spain to UK Ryanair flight diverted after passenger suffers heart attack

Image: Archive

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