"Luggage madness stopped!" - Why Ryanair must now pay

Court stops luggage rip-off: 150 euros for a small suitcase

Cheap flights yes - but without hidden fees, please! A Spanish court has ordered Ryanair to reimburse a passenger around 150 euros. The reason: the airline had charged additional fees for a 10-kilo carry-on bag on five flights. However, according to an EU ruling from 2014, this hand luggage is an "indispensable part of transportation" - and therefore should not cost extra.

This is a real breakthrough for anyone who regularly travels with low-cost airlines. Until now, it was common practice that even a normal cabin trolley was subject to an extra charge. This is now (hopefully) a thing of the past.

Judges speak plainly: "Reckless" and "greedy for money"

The court was particularly clear in its assessment of Ryanair's business model: it spoke of "reckless" behavior that deliberately forces passengers to complain because the airline knows full well that most customers do not want to put up with the stress. And this is not an isolated case: Ryanair is already under fire for its baggage policy in Portugal, Belgium and repeatedly in Spain.

The comparison is absurd, but real: a suitcase costs almost as much as the person carrying it.
According to Statista, the average flight price in 2024 was 66 euros - the price of a 20-kilo suitcase can be up to 59.99 euros with Ryanair.

And what does this mean for German passengers?

Even though the ruling was made in Spain, it has an impact far beyond the country's borders. This is because it is based on European law. This means that German passengers could theoretically also take legal action against baggage fees, but in practice it is more complicated - because Germany does not yet have a clear regulation on this.

But the direction is clear: the days of arbitrary additional costs are numbered. More and more courts in Europe are recognizing that a small bag or a carry-on suitcase is not a luxury service, but part of basic carriage.

Irony of the day: Extra fees for Ryanair boss in restaurant

Speaking of additional costs: In an Irish restaurant, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary received a very special receipt. In addition to his meal, he was jokingly charged for "extra legroom", "seat selection" and a "reservation in a quiet environment" - in the style of his own airline. The pictures went viral - and probably struck a nerve.

Time for something to change

Ryanair has overstepped the mark. Additional fees for things that are taken for granted are not a business model, but a symptom of a cost-cutting frenzy that has gotten out of hand and is being imposed on customers.

The ruling is a wake-up call for all low-cost airlines: those who advertise with minimum prices should not ask you to pay three times in the small print. Hand luggage is not an "add-on", but basic equipment. Period.