The Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has ruled that several additional fees charged by the budget airline Ryanair are unlawful. This decision comes after a legal challenge initiated by the Consumer Information Association (VKI) on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs. According to the ruling published on Monday, 14 out of 15 fee clauses in Ryanair's general transportation conditions were deemed unacceptable due to their lack of clarity and transparency. The VKI had filed a collective lawsuit against these specific clauses, which included a check-in fee of €55, among others.
The VKI’s legal action targeted 15 specific fee clauses within Ryanair’s general terms of carriage. At the forefront was the €55 check-in fee imposed on passengers who checked in at the airport. In total, the OGH found that 14 of the 15 fee clauses were invalid. The VKI announced this finding on Monday, emphasizing the complexity and ambiguity of the language used in these clauses. For instance, the term “Kleinkindergebühr” (infant fee) of €25 is described in the general terms as being applicable to children under two years old who require a seat for safety reasons but are not allowed one. This fee applies per flight, including round trips.
In addition to the check-in fee, Ryanair charges for mandatory family seats, the issuance of a boarding pass at €15, and other similar fees. These combined charges can sometimes exceed the cost of the flight itself. The OGH noted that many of these clauses are formulated in such a way that consumers find them difficult to understand, especially when considering potential refund claims. The court emphasized that there is a complete lack of transparency regarding these fees.
According to the OGH, certain fees, such as the check-in fee, booking change fee, boarding pass issuance fee, and name correction fee, are not only opaque but also significantly disadvantage consumers. These fees can be charged even when the reason for their occurrence lies with Ryanair itself, such as when online check-in fails due to technical issues within the set time frame. The VKI provides a sample letter on its website for affected consumers seeking reimbursement of these fees.
Petra Leupold, head jurist at the VKI, commented on the OGH’s ruling in a press release, stating that it serves as a strong signal for price transparency and fair competition. She emphasized that the OGH clearly stated that additional fees must be presented transparently and that consumers should not be unfairly disadvantaged. Affected consumers who paid these fees based on these or similar clauses can now request their return, according to Leupold.
Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, State Secretary for Consumer Protection in the Ministry of Social Affairs and a member of the SPÖ party, welcomed the decision, noting that cheap flights should not mean that consumers end up paying unclear fees. She stressed that anyone booking a flight should know exactly what they are paying for.
The VKI’s legal case against Ryanair was supported by previous rulings from lower courts. Initially, the regional court in Korneuburg (Lower Austria) had already declared 14 of the 15 contested clauses as invalid. The OGH confirmed this decision, reinforcing the earlier findings and providing further legal backing for consumer rights in this matter. The ruling highlights the importance of clear communication and fair practices in the aviation industry, particularly concerning additional charges that can significantly impact consumer costs.
3 reports
KurierParty-alignedCenterFactual 98Objective 967 days agoThe Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has ruled that 14 out of 15 fee clauses in Ryanair's terms of carriage are unlawful, citing their lack of transparency and unfairness to consumers. These fees include check-in charges, child fees, family seat requirements, and boarding pass issuance costs. The court emphasized that such additional fees must be clearly presented and cannot unfairly disadvantage consumers. Affected customers can now seek refunds for these fees. The Consumer Information Association (VKI), which represented the Ministry of Social Affairs in the case, stated that some clauses were formulated in such an unclear manner that consumers could not understand them, especially regarding potential refund claims. A sample letter for requesting refunds is available on the VKI website.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a legal ruling by Austria's highest court regarding consumer rights and airline fees. It includes quotes from both the court and consumer protection organizations, providing balanced perspectives without overtly favoring any side. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the law
Why these scores (Factual 98 · Objective 96): The article accurately reports the OGH ruling against Ryanair's fees, citing specific examples like the 55 Euro check-in fee and 25 Euro child fee. It includes direct quotes from the VKI and mentions the possibility of refunding fees. The only minor deduction is due to some repetition and minor form
ORF NewsState / PublicCenterFactual 97Objective 957 days agoThe Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has ruled that several fees imposed by the low-cost airline Ryanair on passengers are unlawful. The Consumer Information Association (VKI), acting on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs, challenged 15 specific clauses in Ryanair's general terms of carriage. Among these were a 55 euro check-in fee, a 25 euro 'infant fee' for children under two years old who do not require their own seat, and charges for family seats, boarding passes, and other additional costs. The court found that 14 out of the 15 clauses were unacceptable due to being overly complex and lacking transparency. These fees could sometimes exceed the flight price itself. The ruling emphasizes that such charges must be clearly communicated to consumers and cannot unfairly disadvantage them, especially if the reason for the charge stems from issues attributable to Ryanair, such as technical problems during online check-in. The VKI has provided a sample letter for affected customers to reclaim the fees.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a legal decision regarding consumer rights and airline practices, focusing on the clarity and fairness of fees. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or one-sided sourcing. The content is balanced, emphasizing the court’s findings and the implications for consumers without
Why these scores (Factual 97 · Objective 95): This article provides a clear summary of the court decision, mentioning the 14 out of 15 clauses deemed invalid. It gives specific examples such as the check-in fee and child fee, and quotes the VKI’s stance. The article is slightly less detailed than others but remains highly factual and mostly obj
Der StandardIndependentCenterFactual 96Objective 947 days agoThe Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has ruled that 14 out of 15 fee clauses in Ryanair's terms of carriage are unlawful. These fees include charges for check-in at the airport, child tickets, mandatory family seating, and boarding passes. The court found these fees to be opaque and unfairly disadvantage consumers, especially when the cause of the charge lies with Ryanair itself. Affected consumers can now seek reimbursement. The Consumer Information Association (VKI), which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs, highlighted the lack of transparency in the clauses. A sample letter for reimbursement is available on the VKI website. The decision was welcomed by the state secretary for consumer protection, who emphasized that cheap flights should not come with hidden costs.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a legal ruling regarding consumer rights and airline practices. It provides balanced information about the court's decision, the affected fees, and the potential for consumer reimbursement. There is no evident bias in the framing, word choice, or emphasis. The article cites theO
Why these scores (Factual 96 · Objective 94): The article accurately conveys the legal outcome regarding Ryanair's fees and their invalidation by the OGH. It also notes the possibility of refunds. However, it has some formatting issues and incomplete sentences, which slightly reduce its factual clarity and objectivity.
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