2025-07-20 19:00
publication
2025-07-20 19:00
The Dutch air carrier KLM introduced a new tariff in which no place for hand luggage was foreseen; The consumer organization warns that this solution not only misleads clients, but can also be contrary to EU law – said the daily “Algemeen Dagblad” (“AD”).
KLM is testing the new type of “Basic” ticket from July 1. Passengers using this offer are not entitled to traditional hand luggage. As part of this tariff, you can only take a small bag with a maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 centimeters. The experiment currently includes selected routes from Amsterdam and Paris to cities such as Athens, Dublin, Florence, Helsinki and Vienna.
KLM argues that The new tariff is to limit excessive hand luggage, which causes delays and conflicts with the crew. According to the carrier, this is only an attempt, not an official change in politics.
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However, the Dutch Association of Consumernbond referred critically to the matter, which warns that The new rules are misleading and may violate the judgment of the EU Court of Justice of 2014. The CJEU then ruled that the air ticket should include a “reasonable amount of hand luggage”.
According to the organization, the new KLM policy is a “coarse paid model”. The consumer union emphasizes that the tickets themselves are, on average, cheaper by 8 euros, but the cost of taking hand luggage is on average 28 euros, and therefore this means a higher total cost for the passenger.
Consumentenbond together with 15 other European consumer organizations intends to attach a complaint against KLM and Air France to a complaint already filed against seven other carriers in this matter.
From Amsterdam Patryk Kulpok (PAP)
PMK/ Szm/
