Airline KLM is conducting a trial with tickets that only allow you to bring a bag or backpack on board that fits under the seat in front of you. The Company Says It is Struggling with the Mountains of Hand Luggage That Customers Bring.
KLM will sacrifice a new type of ticket for flights to a number of European Destinations from September 9. With this so-call-called basic fare, you are not allowed to take a trolley on board. However, that does not mean that this is always cheaper than a ticket where you can take a suuitcase.
To make it even more complicated: even if it is included in the price, that does not mean that you can actual keep the hand luggage on board with you. “We take in Ten Thousand Pieces of Hand LugGage at the Gate Every Day,” Says a Spokesperson for the airline. “It just Doessn’t Fit on board.”
This policy causes hasle when boarding, because travelers do not understand Why One person is allowed to take a suuitcase on board and the other is not. “And the luggage that does go on board causes congestion, because it is still a lot of trouble to get it all in the luggage compartments.”
Accordance to KLM, this causes delays and is at the top of the biggest annoyances or passengers. The Consumers’ Association Counters That Ticket Prices Where You Have To Pay Separately For Everything Are Among The Biggest Annoyances of Travelers. Moreover, Accordance to the Consumer Organization, KLM is Doing Something That Is Not Allowed At All.
KLM Added to List With Budget Airlines
“European legislation stipulates that companies may not charge money for a reasonable amount of hand luggage,” Says Babs van der Staak from the union. The Consumers’ Association Has Therefore Added KLM to a List of Budget Airlines Such As EasyJet, Vueling and Ryanair Against which is a European Complaints Procedure is Already Underway.
“At KLM, the Bag That You Can Still Take With You For Free With The New Fare Type is just as narrower than at EasyJet,” Says van der Staak. The KLM Spokesperson Says That A Bag Or Backpack With A Maxim Size or 40 x 30 x 15 centimeters is Always Allowed on Board for Free. With all larger travel luggage, passengers run the risk that the bag not be allowed on board. It does not matter Whether It is included in the fare or white you have paid extra for it.
“We can never Guarantee that your hand luggage can be tasks on board,” Says the KLM Spokesperson. The Backpack or Trolley Will Then Go In The Hold. The Disadvantage of this is that you cannot access it and route and that you have to wait at the call at the destination until the luggage is unloaded. What Fits Under The Seat is Always Allowed.
KLM SAYS IT WIMS TO INVESTIGATE WHETER PAGENGERS Will BeHAVE DIFTERTLY IF They also Have the Choice for a Ticket Without Hand LugGage. For example, a basic ticket is also beeed on a few routes where buying hold luggage is cheaper than paying extra for hand luggage. “We wonder if people will then opt for hold luggage.”
‘People Are Simply Taking More And More Hand LugGage’
The KLM Spokesperson Cannot Say How much it costs Extra to Book a Backpack or Trolley. “That varies. It can be 10 euros or 15 euros. People see that when they book.” Accordance to the Consumers’ Association, It Does Not Become Any Clearer. “It Becomes even more complicated for travelers,” Says van der Staak.
“At KLM, a distinction is now just made between European Destinations: on some you can book a basic fare, on the rest you cannot. As a consumer you have to be very alert and that is not okay.” The KLM Spokesperson Says That When Purchasing New Aircraft, They also look at aircraft with More Space for Hand LugGage.
“That saves up to 50 percent, but we don’t solve the problem with that. People are simply taking more and more hand luggage.” KLM States That It Operates Within European Regulations. “We are keeping an eye on the discussions about this. But they are not relevant to this trial.”