Latest news with #IsaacGuijarro
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ryanair ordered to make hand luggage change in 'huge win for passengers'
Ryanair has been ordered to refund a passenger £124 after a court ruled hand luggage is essential and should not incur extra fees. The passenger will be reimbursed for hand luggage costs charged on five flights between 2019 and 2024 following the judgement at a Salamanca court that their bags should not have incurred additional fees. The judge based her decision on a 2014 decision by a top European Union court which stated that hand luggage 'must, in principle, be considered an indispensable element of passenger transport and that its carriage cannot, therefore, be subject to a price supplement.' The passenger's claim was backed by Spanish consumer rights organisation Facua. Spanish lawyer Isaac Guijarro, who represented passengers, said of the ruling at the time that it was a 'huge win for travellers everywhere.' READ MORE: HMRC issues warning to 'everyone' in a UK household over five-minute form READ MORE: Aldi issues important statement over food safety concerns READ MORE Met Office warns drastic UK weather shift is coming 'if you were wondering' Guijarro said: "It shows Ryanair can't get away with treating passengers like walking ATMs." Article 97 of Spain's Air Navigation law explains airlines are "obliged to transport not only the passenger, but also, and without charging anything for it, the objects and hand luggage that they carry" with them. "They can only deny boarding of these items for security reasons, linked to the weight or size of the object, but in this case they were typical cabin suitcases' that did not exceed 55x35x25cm," he explained. One passenger reacted on social media: "Good. Ryanair destroyed UK local airline Flybe during Covid when our then government refused to support Flybe because Ryanair complained. Ryanair is a horrid airline in every sense. I will never fly with them." A second said: "I can never forgive Ryanair who abandoned its passengers in Gran canaria when the Icelandic volcano erupted 2010. No help, nothing just smirks from staff. It took a court case to get our money back." "Easy to get round the charge at check-in and then cancel the transaction at the lounge just before you about to board the flight., you might have to to phone your bank if you don't have an online account by the way," another said. Another typed: "That's exactly what I did, and they didn't have any bands for the bag and therefore couldn't give me a receipt, I politely said I'll wait, and the plane missed its take off window, and I know the costs of that, the juice in my case, wasn't worth the squeezing for them."
Dublin Live
16-05-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Ryanair ordered by court to refund passenger €147 for hand luggage charges
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ryanair has been ordered by a Spanish court to refund a passenger €147 for hand luggage charges on five flights between 2019 and 2024. The Salamanca court ruled that hand luggage is an essential part of air travel and should not incur additional fees. The passenger was represented by Spanish consumer rights group Facua. The judge based her decision on a 2014 ruling by a top EU court which stated that hand luggage "must, in principle, be considered an indispensable element of passenger transport and that its carriage cannot, therefore, be subject to a price supplement." The case is the latest development in an ongoing string of disputes between Spanish authorities and budget airlines. In October, two other passengers were claimed a victory against the airline after they were charged an extra €96 for carry-on baggage at check-in. Spanish lawyer Isaac Guijarro, who represented passengers in court, called the ruling was a "huge win for travellers everywhere." "It shows Ryanair can't get away with treating passengers like walking ATMs." The lawyer referenced Article 97 of Spain's Air Navigation law in the claim, which says airlines are "obliged to transport not only the passenger, but also, and without charging anything for it, the objects and hand luggage that they carry with them." "They can only deny boarding of these items for security reasons, linked to the weight or size of the object, but in this case they were typical cabin suitcases' that did not exceed 55x35x25cm". he said. A spokesperson for Ryanair told Dublin Live: "Ryanair allows each passenger to carry a generous (40 x 25 x 20 cm) personal bag on board free as part of its basic air fare, with the option to add extra bags for an optional fee should they so wish. This policy promotes both low fares and consumer choice, and is fully compliant with EU law, as upheld by several recent Spanish court rulings, including in Coruña, Segovia, Ontinyent, Seville, and Madrid.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ryanair must refund £124 to passenger over hand luggage charge, court rules
The court ruled that the passenger's carry on bag was 'essential' for air travel in what's being seen as a 'huge precedent' A Spanish court has ordered Ryanair to refund a passenger £124 after she was charged five times for taking basic hand luggage on flights between 2019 and 2024. The hearing in Madrid heard that the airline's extra charges for standard carry-on bags were in violation of Spain's consumer protection laws. And the award against the budget airline could set a precedent for thousands of customers who have been hit with the same fees. Consumer groups are already urging others who have fallen foul of Ryanair's policy to make moves to claim their money back. The Irish airline is known to have some of the strictest baggage rules and it's not the first time they've seen a courtroom battle over hand luggage charges. Euro Weekly reports that in 2019 the same court branded the airline's hand luggage charges 'abusive." At that time, they ordered a €20 refund after a passenger was told to pay to bring her carry-on. The judge also determined that Ryanair's hand luggage fees should no longer be levied in the country. Despite that, the carrier has refused to change its rules and continues to rake in money from those who don't adhere to their policies on it. And in October, the airline was fined and ordered to repay legal fees for two customers who argued they had been unfairly charged for theirs. The passengers, who had paid for four flights with the carrier, complained that at check-in the airline charged them an additional €96 for 'carry-on baggage.' Their lawyer argued Ryanair was in breach of Article 97 of Spain's Air Navigation law. It states that airlines are 'obliged to transport not only the passenger, but also, and without charging anything for it, the objects and hand luggage that they carry' with them'. Their lawyer Isaac Guijarro said after the ruling: "It shows Ryanair can't get away with treating passengers like walking ATMs." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In response Ryanair backed its hand luggage policy. A spokesperson for the airline said: 'Ryanair allows each passenger to carry a generous (40 x 25 x 20 cm) personal bag on board as part of the basic air fare, with the option to add extra bags for an optional fee should they so wish. "This policy promotes both low fares and consumer choice, and is fully compliant with EU law, as upheld by several recent Spanish court rulings, including in Coruña, Segovia, Ontinyent, Seville, and Madrid.' Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs fined Ryanair a record €108million in 2024 as part of a broader €179million action against five low-cost airlines. The fines were in response to a list of questionable charges, from paying for a seat next to your child to being charged just to print a boarding pass. Topping the list though was hand luggage fees.
Metro
15-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Ryanair told to refund person £124 after court rules hand luggage is essential
A Ryanair passenger has been awarded £124 after a court ruled the airline should not have charged them for carry-on luggage. The court in Salamanca, Spain, found that carry-on luggage is an essential part of travel and the passenger should not have incurred additional charges. They will be reimbursed for hand luggage costs charged on five flights between 2019 and 2024. This ruling from judge Raquel Martínez Marco was based on a decision made in 2014 by a top EU court that stated hand luggage 'must, in principle, be considered an indispensable element of passenger transport and that its carriage cannot, therefore, be subject to a price supplement'. Spanish consumer rights organisation Facua also backed the passenger's claim. This ruling is just one part of an ongoing battle between budget airlines and the Spanish authorities. Facua has won five rulings in recent months over carry-on luggage, not just with Ryanair, but against low-cost airline Vueling as well. Two Ryanair passengers were refunded in October and the airline was ordered to pay legal fees. This case found the passengers did not anticipate additional costs of 96 euros for carry-on baggage at check-in. They were represented by lawyer Isaac Guijarro who said it was a 'huge win for travellers everywhere.' He used a defence on Article 97 of Spain's Air Navigation law which says airlines are 'obliged to transport not only the passenger, but also, and without charging anything for it, the objects and hand luggage that they carry' with them. Mr Guijarro argued airlines can refuse items based on weight for security reasons. It was found during this case that the hand luggage met the right size requirements. 'It shows Ryanair can't get away with treating passengers like walking ATMs,' he said. This all comes after a 2019 ruling in Spain that said Ryanair's policy of charging for hand luggage was 'abusive' and should no longer be applied in Spain. More Trending But Ryanair did not change its rules and continues to charge passengers extra money for more hand luggage. In relation to the latest case, a Ryanair spokesperson said: 'Ryanair allows each passenger to carry a generous (40 x 25 x 20 cm) personal bag on board free as part of its basic air fare, with the option to add extra bags for an optional fee should they so wish. 'This policy promotes both low fares and consumer choice, and is fully compliant with EU law, as upheld by several recent Spanish court rulings, including in Coruña, Segovia, Ontinyent, Seville, and Madrid.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Ryanair beware, a new UK airline has just taken off MORE: 'What more could you want?' Your favourite European beaches that aren't full of tourists MORE: M25 closed in rush hour after lorry crashes and overturns
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
‘Passengers could see higher fares' as court forces Ryanair to repay customer's hand luggage fees
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RYANAIR has been ordered to refund a passenger £124, after a court has ruled hand luggage as an essential and should not incur extra fees. A Spanish court has ruled that hand luggage is an essential part of air travel and ordered Ryanair to refund a passenger after they charged them £124 for their hand luggage, across five flights. 2 Ryanair has been ordered to pay a passenger back £124 Credit: Getty The air traveller will be reimbursed for fees they were made to pay to carry hand luggage, on flights between 2019 and 2024. The judge expressed that her decision followed a 2014 ruling by a top EU court that stated hand luggage "must, in principle, be considered an indispensable element of passenger transport and that its carriage cannot, therefore, be subject to a price supplement", reports Mail Online. The passenger's claim was also backed by Spanish consumer rights organisations Facua. This is the latest in a stream of cases between Spanish lawmakers and low-cost airlines. Read more on Ryanair GROUNDED Ryanair warns more flights could be scrapped to Spain - meaning pricier hols In October, Ryanair was also fined and forced to pay the legal fees for two customers who had not foreseen the cost when they bought their tickets. The passengers, who had paid for four flights with the airline, complained that at check-in the airline charged them an additional €96 (£80.94) for carry-on baggage. According to the Mail, Spanish lawyer Isaac Guijarro, who represented the passengers, said the ruling was a "huge win for travellers everywhere". The lawyer used Article 97 of Spain's Air Navigation law for his defence. The article states that airlines are "obliged to transport not only the passenger, but also, and without charging anything for it, the objects and hand luggage that they carry" with them. Isaac said: "They can only deny boarding of these items for security reasons, linked to the weight or size of the object, but in this case they were typical cabin suitcases' that did not exceed 55x35x25cm." Airport mistakes to avoid: From gate delays to overpriced currency exchange He also explained that the airline had ignored previous complaints and requests, leaving his clients with no choice but to go to court. The court then ruled that Ryanair had shown "recklessness" in forcing the passengers to go to court and that the airline had to also pay the travellers' legal fees. The position of airlines and Spain's Airline Association (ALA) is that charging for hand luggage is legal because it is enshrined in EU law. The law states: "Community air carriers and, on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, third country air carriers shall freely determine fares and rates for intra-Community air services." According to Ryanair's website, the airline's carry on bag policy is that passengers are entitled to a free small bag "which must fit under the seat in front of you" and "can be a handbag, laptop back or backpack". What does the ruling mean for British travellers? Lisa Minot, The Sun's head of travel weighs in on the ruling. THE SPANISH court's ruling against Ryanair may seem like a cause for celebration but don't think things will change any time soon for UK passengers. Lawyers in Spain have been using EU and Spanish laws that enshrine the right to hand-luggage but the quibble comes down to the size of the bag. Right now, you can take a small under-seat bag on any Ryanair flight for free - as long as it measures no more than 40cm/25cm/20cm. That will cover off a large handbag or small rucksack and technically, if you pack VERY carefully, would be good for a short break. But anything bigger will incur a fee. The issue in this case was the fact the passenger - and Spanish law - thought a standard hand luggage wheelie case of 55cm/35cm/25cm should be allowed. Ryanair started charging for hand luggage back in 2018 - like all no-frills, low-cost airlines, their profits come not from the price of the flight but all the extras they charge. In 2023, Ryanair made 4.2billiion euros through ancillary sales - things like luggage, seat reservations and speedy boarding. That accounted for more than 45per cent of the airline's total revenue for the year. Compare that to the fact that ancillaries made up just 25per cent of Ryanair's revenue in 2015 and you can see how those extras really add up to the airline's profits and bottom line. But forcing Ryanair to change their pricing will only lead to higher base-line fares across the board for everyone. Where UK authorities should be focusing their attention is making sure passengers are not confused by the fact every airline seems to have different rules on what can and cannot be included in the basic fare. Even the differences in the luggage sizes deemed acceptable are dizzying. Standard sizing for a free bag and what is deemed a cabin bag would go a long way towards consumers being able to compare fairly what is and isn't included in the price they are shown when they first look for flights. The measurement restrictions are 40cm by 20cm by 25cm. The website also states that excess baggage will cost £13 per extra kilo, at the airport, call centre or kiosk - whilst easyJet charges £12 per extra kilo and Wizz Air charges £10.96 per extra kilo. The Sun has contacted Ryanair for comment. A dad was also left furious after Ryanair charges him £100 for 'illegal' baggage rule. Plus, the best tips for flying with budget airlines from 'free' legroom seats to cheap food hacks.
