Aer Lingus, now you pay for hand luggage too

When traditional airlines copy low-cost airlines, something positive for the passenger hardly arises. We have already seen how British Airways and Lufthansa have launched their menu. paid for economy customers or as Finnair introduced a light fare which in fact, excluding the seat, includes nothing in the ticket.

What the Irish company announced today recently landed in the OneWorld alliance goes in this direction.

Aer Lingus has decided to copy what has already been implemented by Ryanair, EasyJet and the other low-cost airlines., forcing passengers who want to carry hand luggage on board to buy priority boarding.

Specifically, for flights within Europe, customers will have to pay €5.99 or £5.99 for "priority boarding," otherwise the luggage will have to be checked in, going through check-in, free of charge. When we say you want to copy the worst of the low-cost carriers, this is exactly the case because if the passenger shows up at the gate, without priority but with carry-on luggage, he will be forced to pay €35 penalty.

The only difference with no frill carriers is that elite passengers in the AerClub loyalty program may be exempt from this ridiculous fee. Here in detail for whom carry-on baggage and priority boarding is automatically included:

• Silver, Platinum and AerClub Concierge members (does not apply to companions)
• Reservations made under the Plus, Advantage and Aer Space rate types.
• Adults traveling with an infant
• Customers connecting to and from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight or a flight connecting with an interline partner

In conclusion

It seems to me to be a clumsy attempt to collect some pocket change, since this change applies only to passengers without status who travel on Saver fares and exclusively in Europe, at a time when the passenger should be pampered and not robbed.

Between borders opening and closing in a matter of days, with passengers having to deal with buffers, self-certifications, apps, and every other devilry, here is an airline that should be premium putting itself on the same level as Ryanair and in the end, as it should, will come out with broken bones.

• baggage