Help Needed! Ryanair charged me to check in bag of duty free

HelenaHandcart

callum9999 wrote: »

As Ryanair planes have no room to carry an extra duty-free bag per person (they struggle with the one-bag rule!) - surely that's a good defence then.

Though that's an absolutely ridiculous law anyway (unless specific details have been lost in translation) - if you're going to ignore size limitations, what's stopping everyone bringing a 40kg suitcase on board. While they can't argue their T&Cs take precedence, they can of course just ignore it on the basis of it being a silly, unenforceable law.

They can't ignore it because people who are charged €50 in breach of the law can sue for a refund (and possibly also compensation for distress caused). In 1960 nobody would have thought to take 40kg into an aircraft cabin. Ryanair and other low-cost airlines have changed passenger culture by charging for checked-in baggage. The consequence is that people are now carrying large quantities of cabin baggage and suddenly an old law which everyone had ignored for decades becomes relevant.

It's worth remembering, too, that aiports have two sources of income: landing fees and shop rents. If airlines don't allow purchases on board then passengers won't buy and the shops will go out of business. That will mean that landing fees will have to increase which means higher airfares for all of us. At least airport shopping is voluntary!

callum9999

HelenaHandcart wrote: »

They can't ignore it because people who are charged €50 in breach of the law can sue for a refund (and possibly also compensation for distress caused). In 1960 nobody would have thought to take 40kg into an aircraft cabin. Ryanair and other low-cost airlines have changed passenger culture by charging for checked-in baggage. The consequence is that people are now carrying large quantities of cabin baggage and suddenly an old law which everyone had ignored for decades becomes relevant.

It's worth remembering, too, that aiports have two sources of income: landing fees and shop rents. If airlines don't allow purchases on board then passengers won't buy and the shops will go out of business. That will mean that landing fees will have to increase which means higher airfares for all of us. At least airport shopping is voluntary!

I think the above response is proof that they are ignoring it though! Of course someone could try and sue them over it - but who would? It's an antiquated law that shouldn't exist any more.

That may be true, but I don't think that's a chief concern for Ryanair. At airports where Ryanair is the main airline there don't appear to be many shops anyway (at least in the ones I've seen) - some only feature a small cafe type place and a newsagents at best.

jpsartre

Also worth noting that Ryanair does not prohibit people from buying duty free items and carrying them on board, they just insist that whatever you buy counts as part of your carry-on allowance.

HelenaHandcart

jpsartre wrote: »

Also worth noting that Ryanair does not prohibit people from buying duty free items and carrying them on board, they just insist that whatever you buy counts as part of your carry-on allowance.

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They don't prohibit but there have been reports that the strict 'one-bag' policy does discourage people from airport shopping (e.g. irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0322/1224313702169.html).

HelenaHandcart

callum9999 wrote: »

That may be true, but I don't think that's a chief concern for Ryanair. At airports where Ryanair is the main airline there don't appear to be many shops anyway (at least in the ones I've seen) - some only feature a small cafe type place and a newsagents at best.

It will be a concern if the landing fees go up. Ryanair wants it both ways - minimal landing fees + large baggage fees. There are many airports where Ryanair is a significant presence AND where shops provide a major source of income (e.g. Malaga).

jpsartre

HelenaHandcart wrote: »

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They don't prohibit but there have been reports that the strict 'one-bag' policy does discourage people from airport shopping

Of course, that is to be expected.

If airports are losing money because people are shopping less and have to increase landing fees as a result, so be it. It's up to the airport to charge whatever it needs to charge to be financially viable. It's up to the airlines whether or not they agree to pay those charges.

stoneman

RA have taken it upon themselves to have a long standing fight wit AENA, who own a few Spanish airpots. It stems from AENA telling RA that they have to use airbridges at the new Alicantie airport which would cost RA another 2 million euro a year. So they said stuff you we will pull our flights. Since then AENA seem to be the only Spanish airport owner to stick up these signs, we saw them in TFS and almost fell for it but as we knew what RA are like decided against and only bought a few things that would go in the carry on. You are really stuck if RA say you can't take it on, what are you going to do, there is no time to get out of line and find the airport managers.

HelenaHandcart

jpsartre wrote: »

If airports are losing money because people are shopping less and have to increase landing fees as a result, so be it. It's up to the airport to charge whatever it needs to charge to be financially viable. It's up to the airlines whether or not they agree to pay those charges.

For sure. The problem for the airports is that Ryanair has negotiated especially low fees on the basis that it will bring thousands of additional shoppers through the airport. Ryanair subsequently decided to enforce strictly the 'one-bag' policy which discourages airport purchases leaving the shops and airports in a squeeze. This is why the Spanish airports are drawing on the law of 1960; financially they have to get people spending in the airport shops.

By the way, I have always assumed that one bag means one bag so made sure that everything I have or buy will fit into my cabin bag. However, I've never been asked to put it all into one bag, even when flying on Ryanair. I might just have been lucky but I think that the really strict enforcement of the policy is fairly recent.

jpsartre

Ryanair have had a one-bag policy for years now. If they are not bringing enough money to the airport as a result it's the airport's responsibility to renegotiate landing fees.

HelenaHandcart

jpsartre wrote: »

Ryanair have had a one-bag policy for years now. If they are not bringing enough money to the airport as a result it's the airport's responsibility to renegotiate landing fees.

There's a difference between having a policy and enforcing it. I think that the strict enforcement has only been going on for a few years (2? 3?). There is probably a fixed timescale for renegotating the fees (e.g. a five-year contract) so it may not be that easy.