Is Brussels Airlines moving closer to low-cost carriers like Ryanair? It certainly looks that way, as free carry-on baggage on short- and medium-haul flights will soon be a thing of the past at Brussels Airlines and the other airlines in the Lufthansa Group.
While low-cost carriers have been charging separately for carry-on luggage for years, Brussels Airlines and the Lufthansa Group are now following the trend by introducing a new base fare that includes only one personal item, such as a laptop bag or a small backpack. Travelers bringing carry-on luggage will have to pay more.
Cheaper, but not for the average traveler
Prior to the fare change, the cheapest ticket offered by Brussels Airlines – Economy Light – included not only a personal item measuring up to 40 by 30 by 15 cm but also one piece of carry-on luggage, up to 55 by 40 by 23 cm.
But since not everyone brings carry-on luggage, “the new Basic fare, for example, offers day-trippers an additional option at an attractive entry price”, the airline says. Additional carry-on or checked baggage can be booked for as low as 15 euros.
In other words, by separating services such as carry-on baggage from the base fare, Brussels Airlines can advertise a lower starting price. But if you then add carry-on baggage – which most travelers do – you end up paying the same amount or even more than before, when it was simply included.
Or: The advertised price looks more attractive on comparison sites like Skyscanner, but the final bill ends up being higher once you add your standard travel essentials – though for those who truly travel with just a small backpack or laptop bag, the new base fare is indeed cheaper.
Trial bias, then roll out
The new “Economic Basic” fare will be introduced on a trial basis starting April 28 on several routes for travel beginning May 19. For Brussels Airlines, this involves about 20 routes, including flights to and from Budapest, Hamburg, Krakow, Prague, and Stockholm. The plan is to eventually roll it out across the entire continental network.
After the launch of the new fare, travelers will be able to choose from four economy-class fare options and three business-class options. “The revised fare structure enables a clear, transparent choice tailored to individual needs,” the airline states.
The other airlines in the Lufthansa Group – Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Discover Airlines, the soon-to-be-discontinued Lufthansa City, and Air Dolomiti – will also offer the base fare.
Unfair, say consumer organizations
The move continues the creeping trend in the aviation sector – one that Ryanair and EasyJet started – of selling items that used to be standard inclusions in a ticket separately, such as carry-on luggage, seat selection, and the flexibility to make changes.
Many consumer organizations believe that pushing this trend is unfair – imagine having to pay extra for your carry-on luggage on a train; it would cause quite a stir – and are advocating for European regulations that would require a basic carry-on allowance to always be included in a ticket.
The point is that in Europe, each member state is responsible for enforcing aviation regulations within its own territory. Airlines, therefore, operate within a patchwork of enforcement and cleverly take advantage of it. The Spanish regulator, for example, has already imposed fines for violations of the rule.
However, the European Parliament’s Transport Committee wants to put an end to the confusion. An agreement is on the table regarding new passenger rights in aviation, with the key point being uniform carry-on baggage rules across all of Europe.
It is expected that airlines, if the proposal is approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, will be required to allow at least one personal item measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm free of charge. However, that is only a small bag – not a full-sized carry-on suitcase, which therefore falls outside the standard.
In other words, barring any unforeseen complications, it looks like the powerful aviation industry lobby has won the day, again.
