EasyJet investigated in Italy over alleged unfair baggage pricing
Italy’s competition authority says the airline used a ‘misleading and aggressive commercial practice’
JimMin
Italy’s competition authority has launched an investigationinto easyJet for “unfair commercial practices” in the advertising of checked baggage fees.
The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), Italy’s antitrust organisation, opened the inquiry into how the airline presents additional baggage fees on its website and mobile app on Tuesday.
AGCM alleges that the airline advertised “only the average price of the service” and set bundled purchases of checked baggage and sports equipment for round-trip flights as the default option, even if customers did not intend to book extra baggage on return flights.
It said that this practise “misleads customers” on the actual price of the service for each leg of a trip.
To purchase additional luggage for one-way travellers would require overriding the airline’s default option, according to the AGCM.
The regulator added that anyone wishing to add luggage for just a single leg was forced to interrupt the booking process to override this setting.
According to the Authority, easyJet’s conduct constitutes a “misleading and aggressive commercial practice”.
A spokesperson for easyJet said: “We are aware of the proceedings opened by the AGCM and will fully cooperate with the Authority throughout its investigation. We believe we have always acted in line with applicable consumer laws and remain committed to ensuring transparency and fairness for our customers.
“We will now carefully review the Authority’s notice and consider our next steps.”
It’s not the only airline to be investigated by the Italian competition watchdog.
In December, Ryanair was hit with a €256m (£224m) fine by AGCM for allegedly employing an “abusive strategy” to obstruct third-party travel agencies.
It claimed the budget airline intentionally complicated the process for agencies to purchase flights via its website, a practice observed from April 2023 until at least April this year.
Read more: Lost luggage? What to do if your airline lets you down
