Airline Vueling faces Italy antitrust probe on hand luggage fees. Spanish budget carrier According to the Italian competition regulator (AGCM), Vueling is under antitrust investigation in Italy over hand baggage surcharges and internet profiling.
The regulator claims that the airline fails to warn clients that the cost of hand baggage differs depending on whether tickets are purchased through its website or mobile app.
Furthermore, “it would seem that the device used by the consumer is also used as a parameter to proceed with customer profiling in such a way as to differentiate the purchase price of the ticket,” the AGCM stated.
If these actions are confirmed, the regulator said they may harm customers by providing “incomplete, non-transparent, and omissive information” on how Vueling determines the cost of checked baggage.
The hand baggage costs imposed by Vueling Airlines are the subject of the Italian antitrust investigation. Authorities are considering whether these fees abide by local laws and consumer protection standards. The investigation aims to ascertain if Vueling Airlines is involved in unethical behavior and whether its costs are open and reasonable. The results of this inquiry will affect travelers in Italy. The hand baggage fee schedule for Vueling Airlines can be altered if the antitrust investigation uncovers any violation. Travelers must keep informed because this may influence how much it will cost to fly with the airline.
Reuters approached Vueling for a response. Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and other airlines are all owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG) (ICAG.L), including the airline’s headquarters in Barcelona.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced in August that it had launched an inquiry into Vueling and other budget airlines over hand baggage and other costs that cause most customers to pay more than what was first stated.
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