European Parliament is deliberating prohibiting airlines from imposing fees on carry-on luggage, saying it is a basic human right to fly with a bag.
If this sounds to you like a first world problem, you’re not alone.
View from the Wing‘s Gary Leff writes: “…if carry on bags are a right then being required to gate check bags because overhead bins are full violates our rights. At a minimum failing to install larger bins is a human rights violation. But since those bins can fill up too, isn’t the very design of an Airbus aircraft an affront to all of humanity? This notion of carry on bags as fundamental right gets real silly real fast.”
However, Spanish Renew MEP Jordi Cañas, a supporter of this initiative, expressed his discontentment with airlines that seemingly compromise citizens' rights, "You cannot commoditize a right, nor have a business model that inflates profits by dint of trampling on consumer rights," he said.
According to multiple sources, a ruling from the European Court of Justice claimed in 2014 that carry-on bags of “reasonable” weight and reasonable size are a “necessary” part of air travel, and anything necessary should be free.
Consider the issue from the perspective of national carriers versus discounters.
View from the Wing states, "This would benefit large national airlines at the expense of discounters and drive up price."
France has already been mulling banning major discounters such as Ryanair from serving the country.
Banning the additional fees would greatly advantage mainline carriers which bundle the cost of carry-on into the base fare. As opposed to low lead-in pricing from discounters which do not include carry-on.
It also raises the issue of standardization. There are often inconsistencies between airlines on the size and weight of hand luggage, which causes issues for passengers traveling on multi-leg trips operated by different carriers.
There's an environmental angle to add to the mix. Waiving bag fees might motivate passengers to bring more luggage, which in turn would increase fuel consumption. This stands in contrast to Europe's commitment to curbing fossil fuel emissions. The situation presents a conundrum: beneficial for flagship airlines but detrimental to the environment.
While this measure might not stop airlines from imposing carry-on luggage fees, it may curb unexpected airport charges.
The question is, if Europe succeeds in passing the law banning fees for carry-on luggage, will Canada follow suit?
According to Global News, "Bought in advance, a carry-on item could run anywhere from CAD $25 to CAD $42, depending on the airline and flight duration –and at the gate, the same bag could cost up to CAD $64 with Flair and CAD $90.
According to the Globe and Mail, "While flexible rates for bags and other add-on services could result in lower costs for some passengers, they are likely to drive up the overall cost of flying at peak travel times, according to some aviation experts. The changes also make it harder for consumers to gauge how much their total flight cost might be before committing to a booking.”
Earlier this year, Lynx Air updated its website to notify that new rates were effective for reservations starting 14FEB 2023. For short-haul flights, a carry-on bag costs CAD $59.99 to CAD $66.49. On Flair's website, baggage fees vary by CAD $40.
Among the Canadian carriers surveyed by The Globe and Mail, only Porter Airlines said it uses dynamic pricing to set rates for bags and seat selection, an approach the company said it adopted in 2019. "The strategy, which airlines already use widely to set airfares, allows companies to charge flexible rates based on users’ browsing behaviour and market demand."
Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs has said that selling a ticket without a carry-on is unreasonable.
"We all have some sort of carry-on, it's just part of normal travel," he said.
Lukacs characterized the airlines' dependence on concealed charges as a downward spiral, where certain carriers prefer inventing new hidden fees over pursuing efficiency.
