The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 has fined low-cost airlines Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian and Voloteawith 179 million euros for “abusive” practices. These include, for example, charging for carry-on luggage or for selecting seats together.
In 2023, the department currently led by Pablo Bustinduy opened a file against these companies for these practices. Now, with the imposition of this sanction, this investigation process is closed and the practices have been classified as “very serious”.
Regarding the fines, the largest amount is for Ryanair (more than 107.7 million euros), followed by Vueling (39.26), EasyJet (29.09), Norwegian (1.60) and Volotea (1 ,18). Although consumer organizations such as the OCU or Facua have celebrated this decision, considering that for the first time a forceful sanction is imposed, the process does not end here.
The position of the airlines
The sanctioned airlines they are going to resort before the National Court to be able to continue executing these practices. As they announced this Friday, in their opinion, This fine “doesn’t change anything” since they are going to request the application of precautionary measures to be able to continue maintaining their policies while the litigation is resolved.
In fact, Javier Gándar, president of the Association of Airlines (ALA), has warned that if the precautionary measures are not approved and they cannot continue to maintain – for the moment – these practices would generate “a very important competitive distortion.” ».
In the middle of this litigation between the Ministry and the fined low-cost airlines, many users wonder if they will be able to recover the money intended to pay for the cabin bag or be able to sit next to a minor or a dependent person if they travel with them. .
At the moment, it is known that The deadline for companies to present resources is two months that will give rise to the administrative process when they are resolved. According to Gándara’s statements collected by Europa Press, this could last about two years.
What happens now with consumers? Can I get my money back?
The OCU, for its part, has requested that the Ministry prevent further collection once precautionary measures are requested. It also encourages consumers to “complain to the company” if they are charged. However, it is not that simple.
According to ALA, these practices of charging for extras are endorsed by EU Regulation 1008/2008 and they criticize in their statement that “the decision of the Minister of Consumer Affairs, being manifestly illegal, inexplicable and that could seriously and irreversibly harm many passengers.”
In a press conference, Facua spokesperson Rubén Sánchez stated that “consumers can claim their money as they have been able to do since 2018.” However, as he has acknowledged, the companies will “probably” refuse to compensate the customer or refund the money for that claim.
In this way, those who want to recover their money “can put a complaint to the Consumer Administration of their autonomous community so that a sanctioning file is opened and they can go to court free of charge. Thus, for the moment, consumers’ options to recover that money go through initiate legal proceedings to claim. According to Sánchez, in some of these processes “favorable resolutions” have been achieved.
Consumer associations have open channels for advice regarding these practices and to study the paths that can be followed in each case.
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