Austrian Court Rules Some Ryanair Fees Illegal, Opens Door for Compensation

An Austrian court has declared several of Ryanair's additional fees illegal, potentially paving the way for passengers to claim compensation. The ruling, which focused on charges such as a 55-euro airport check-in fee, a 25-euro fee for small children, and a 15-euro fee for issuing a boarding pass, was brought forth by the consumer rights group VKI on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs.

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additional fees must be presented transparently

VKI argued that these supplementary charges were not transparently presented and, in some cases, could even surpass the original ticket price. The group also noted that Ryanair levied these fees even when passengers did not have the option to determine the validity of the charges themselves.

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Consumers who paid these fees under these conditions can now demand their money back.

"Consumers who paid these fees under these conditions can now demand their money back," stated VKI in a press release. The State Secretary for Consumer Protection, Ulrike Koenigsberger Ludwig, emphasized the importance of clarity, saying, "Everyone who books a flight must know how much it actually costs." Ryanair has not yet responded to requests for comment, though the airline recently announced it would eliminate fees for parents wishing to sit next to their children, following an investigation by a UK regulator into such extra costs.

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Everyone who books a flight must know how much it actually costs.