The European Commission has launched a consultation to review the Air Services Regulation, as stated in its most recent communication on Mobility Strategy.

In a resolution on uniform standards for airline carry-on luggage, MEPs argue that consistent EU rules on sizing and pricing are needed.

The text, adopted with a show hands, highlights citizens' concerns about the inconvenience and discomfort caused by inconsistent rules on airline carry-on luggage. EU legislation on air passenger rights should be revised to offer a solution, says the resolution.

Different airline rules on hand luggage create hidden fees and make it more difficult to compare prices, say MEPs. Also, when passengers use different airlines or need to change their plans, inconsistent rules create confusion. MEPs stress that when reviewing the current EU Air Services legislation, the Commission should fully implement the relevant ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU. The Court found that airlines should not charge a supplement for hand baggage "on condition that such hand baggage meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions, and complies with applicable security requirements". New legislation should also address other hidden costs, for example fees related to seat allocation, argue MEPs.

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)

found this on a simple google search... i really hope so because it's rediculous. My partner just went to New York on Avelo.... you are allowed ONE carry on which MUST fit under the seat... if you wanted to use the overhead bins, you had to pay extra... and no it's ONE item TOTAL... not even one plus a personal.

It is common knowledge that in the golden age of aviation, airlines often suffered because of the chaotic settlement of tickets. There were sections on planes with "open reservations" and any travel agent or airline could issue tickets without knowing if reservations could actually be made. At that time, overbooking was sometimes scandalous...

I know of Aer Lingus and Delta flying in pool to Dublin and Delta was allowed to sell 20 seats on an Aer Lingus flight. You arrive at Dublin airport with a regular Delta ticket and it turns out that Delta sold over 60 without making a reservation and the ticketing agents had to sort it out. Happened to a friend of mine.

In the days of paper tickets, it also took at least 2 months after flying a flight before they received their money... they had to cover that period of costs (wages, rental fees, services, fuel, parking fees, landing fees, etc.), pre-finance themselves.

Nowadays, with the ubiquity of PCs and smartphones and websites directly from the airlines, it is the passengers who pre-finance the activities of the airlines ... anyone ... the earlier you book, the better the fare, so you could book q flight 6 months in advance, and pay for it. That way the companies already have the money for 6 months before they have to provide the service.

Also all the extras... seat selections, luggage, overhead bins, early boarding, window seats, meals, drinks... the airlines now have all those things under control and make more money from them than from the actual flying itself... you think you'd found a cheap rate on their website and then it starts... you go to the USA from Europe with your kids and you easily pay $250 extra per person just to sit next to your kids... $70 to get to take a suitcase with you either way. Want to have a beer with your meal? Pay!

A meal? In the past, in the golden age of aviation, a meal was a real meal. Then the period of "Chicken or pasta" started and that chicken was a chicken breast. A little later it became a very small chicken breast of which you could wonder whether it came from a chicken or from the pigeons that are regularly caught in Central Park. And then it became 3 slices of a very small chicken breast and now you end up with 4 dice-sized pieces of chicken. And the entire meal fits in the palm of your hand, it's not even a snack. Do you want to have more? That is possible, provided you pay...It has become a rip-off, even the mafia would treat you better.

And that is why this hopefully expected European action is very welcome, but it will simply lead to higher fares than ...

Have you noticed how few airlines go bankrupt these days? Virtually none anymore, and there is a reason for that... the technology to extract money from travelers' pockets has been greatly refined.

If they need more money they will find ways ... coin-operated restrooms, standing-up space only, 7-abreast seating in a 737 ...

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)