Eight years ago, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) decided to introduce uniform rules for hand luggage. But the attempt failed. While the standard has been adopted by most airlines, others continued to follow their own rules and viewed the standard more as a guide. Instead of uniform regulations, there is still a jungle of tariffs.
And that could get worse this summer. Because many airlines are taking an even stricter route. In many cases, travelers are no longer allowed to use the luggage rack at all. You should only take one piece of luggage with you that fits under the front seat. The aim is to reduce the time spent in the cabins while luggage is being stowed away. From 2024, the security check should also be a little faster for hand luggage.
In these airlines you have to pay extra for the luggage rack
“If you want to take a small trolley that goes in the overhead locker, you can pay a little extra or book a different category,” Norwegian’s press office told travel services.
Low-cost airline Ryanair had already introduced this rule in 2018, and more and more airlines are now following this example.
At Eurowings, hand luggage trolleys have cost an extra ten euros for a few years now. The small hand luggage should fit under the seat and be no bigger than a small backpack, in which a laptop can be stowed.
With Easyjet, the trolley is also only included for an additional charge. Travelers must either book a seat with more legroom for around eight euros or a ticket with a flexi fare (from 11 euros per route).
WizzAir charges 25 euros at the counter for the small suitcase. Otherwise the same applies here : Only bags and luggage that fit under the front seat are allowed in the cabin.
The Spanish low-cost airline Vueling Airlines also does away with the free luggage rack. Travelers can only use this space if they pay for it.
SunExpress, the low-cost subsidiary of the joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, has been following this example for a few days now with the “Sun Light” fare. As FOCUS learned online, the company introduced the scheme last week. Bulky luggage or larger hand luggage can be checked in for a surcharge.
Before departure, pay attention to the fare you have booked
Due to persistently high inflation, kerosene prices, infrastructure costs and increased supplier costs, travelers can expect higher airfares again this summer. The airlines could therefore advertise more with light and basic tariffs in order to win customers.
These tariffs appear again and again with most airlines, especially on the Internet. But you should take a closer look here.
Most Economy Light or Economy Basic are usually the cheapest fares. In many cases, only a limited amount of hand luggage is included. Checked baggage, larger cabin bags and seat reservations are extra. Rebooking and cancellation of tickets are generally not possible. If you choose a light ticket, you get a range of services that is similar to the conditions of a low-cost airline. Extras cost extra.
Travelers should take a close look at the airlines’ flight portals and websites to see which economy fare they are booking with which included services. “Not everything is cheap,” says the consumer advice center in Brandenburg. An expert advises: “In the end, you may end up paying additional costs.”