The hold luggage is already in place, but you arrive at the boarding gate with the suitcase you intend to take into the cabin and they throw it back because its dimensions exceed those allowed by the company with which you intend to fly.
This setback not only remains that, but also affects the pocket. According to data provided by the Organization of Consumers and Users, Ryanair charges 69.99 euros for cabin luggage that is rejected at the boarding gate for exceeding the measures and has to be transferred to the hold; Easyjet between 29 and 58 euros for payment at the airport depending on the size of the suitcase, and Transavia 45 euros for luggage that has to be checked in at the airport at the last moment, in all cases if a basic rate was contracted.
In addition to hand luggage measurements, another aspect that may cause a surcharge in the price of the ticket is the weight. In some cases, it is limited to eight kilos, as is the case with Alitalia, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, Swiss air, TAP and Turkish, and some airlines even lower it to seven kilos, in the case of Qatar and Emirates.
But most airlines have increased this limit and allow 10 or 12 kilos, although some include in this calculation the weight of a second package such as a handbag. If you travel with a business fare or equivalent, the conditions for weight and number of packages are usually more generous, as the OCU clarifies.
If a certain weight is exceeded, the company can force hand luggage to be checked in and transported to the hold upon payment of the corresponding fee that can exceed 100 euros, depending on the airline. For example, Turkish Airlines charges up to 165 euros; TAP, up to 120 euros, and Swiss Air and Iberia, up to 100 euros, respectively. Everything will depend on the type of ticket, the destination or the number of bags that have been checked in.
How to avoid scares?
The OCU recommends measuring and weighing the cabin suitcase and checking that it does not exceed the measurements set by the airline with which you are going to travel. And how do you know what dimensions each airline requires?
In view of this question, the Organization of Consumers and Users advises purchasing hand luggage with specific measurements: 55 x 35 x 20 cm, wheels, handles and pockets included. This is the size proposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which complies with the maximums set by all companies.
This proposal responds to the ideal dimensions for the best use of cabin space, so that all passengers could fly with their hand luggage on board.
In addition to purchasing hand luggage with the specified dimensions, it never hurts to inquire before formalizing the flight about all the conditions related to luggage by consulting the company's website or by phone, taking into account that the conditions they can change within the same company depending on the destination, the class, the type of ticket, even the plane model. Likewise, airlines normally accept a cabin suitcase plus an accessory item (such as a bag, computer, camera), but you must be informed of possible restrictions on that second hand baggage and checked baggage.
Can you still charge extra?
Although the measurements of the cabin suitcase do not exceed those allowed by the company, there are some that ask for a supplement of between 4 and 52 euros when purchasing low-fare tickets. This is the case of Easyjet, Norwegian, Ryanair, Vueling and Wizz Air.
According to the data collected by the OCU:
- On Easyjet, only customers who have reserved an Up front or Extra legroom seat (supplement from 10.49 to 52.49 euros), as well as easyJet Plus card holders or customers with a flexible rate
- Also in Wizz Air you have to pay a supplement for carrying your suitcase in the cabin (it varies from 4 to 40 euros).
- In Norwegian you can transport a suitcase up to 55 x 40 x 23 free in some fares, in others you have to pay (for example, with the low fare you have to pay a supplement of 5 to 10 euros) .
- Ryanair admits one suitcase of 55 x 40 x 20 free on a regular/flexi plus ticket or extra payment of a supplement of 6-22 euros for the “priority & 2 pieces of hand luggage.
- Vueling includes a 55x40x20 suitcase in the cabin in the optimal, family and timeflex fares ticket. In the basic rate they must be paid in 25 euros
