As of: March 28, 2024, 11:46 a.m
By: Lennart Schwenck
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Flying involves many financial risks in times of mass tourism. What travelers should definitely pay attention to and how hidden costs can be avoided.
Kassel – Traveling by plane has developed over the years from a luxury item into a transport option for the masses. According to
the Federal Statistical Office,
Germany alone receives
80 to 90 million passengers per year. The growing number also poses more and more challenges for the airlines. In order to maximize sales and profits, processes must be optimized and costs reduced. Airlines that offer particularly cheap flight tickets are particularly affected by the rising costs of energy and personnel.
Low-cost airlines offer flight tickets at cheaper prices. With prices so low, some consumers wonder how low-cost airlines like EasyJet, Ryanair and Co. actually manage to be so cheap.
Important, but can also be expensive: hand luggage when flying. (Symbolic photo) © IMAGO / Rupert Oberhäuser
The business model of low-cost airlines: That's why they are so cheap
In some cases, such airlines save immense personnel costs because they only provide check-in online or only offer check-in at the airport on site through immense additional costs. But hand luggage is and remains an important factor. According to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in September 2014, hand luggage must “always remain free”.
The only problem is: There are no regulations about how big and how heavy a piece of hand luggage has to be. The maximum sizes and guidelines are set by the airlines themselves. However, this also means that the airlines can set their own surcharges if the dimensions and maximum weight of the hand luggage item are exceeded.
Be careful with hand luggage: cost traps and a lack of standards
For example, Ryanair only allows you to carry one small piece of hand luggage the size of a laptop bag free of charge. Depending on the route, larger items of hand luggage will cost six to thirty-six euros when booking online. At the counter on site it becomes even more expensive: it costs 20 to 38 euros per piece of hand luggage. And it gets really more expensive when boarding when it is actually too late - up to 46 euros. With flight ticket prices sometimes only 10 to 15 euros, in percentage terms that's quite a sum.
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Easyjet is more accommodating: a small piece of hand luggage is free. Larger ones, such as a rolling trolley, cost at least 7.99 euros. Eurowings currently handles things almost similarly: small pieces of hand luggage are free, but for larger hand luggage cases it is significantly more expensive: at least 18 euros.
EU Parliament approves new standardization for hand luggage
However, it is important to note that airlines, including Ryanair, often change their dimensions and weight guidelines for hand luggage. That's why it's important to always find out about the permitted dimensions before departure. By the way: When packing, it's better to use a lighter carry-on suitcase, so you have more net weight available for the contents.
The fact that, despite the ECJ ruling, there are no standardized standards for luggage requirements among airlines not only annoys many consumers, but is now also a thorn in the side of the EU Parliament. Therefore, there was already a “motion for a resolution on standard dimensions for hand luggage” in September 2023. The EU Parliament's resolution on uniform price and size requirements for hand luggage on airplanes was successful. The EU Commission is therefore called upon to present measures for implementation.