Ryanair faces legal action in Belgium over alleged deceptive pricing as airline defends transparency

On May 15, 2025, Belgian consumer group Testachats launched legal action against Ryanair, accusing the airline of multiple deceptive practices that allegedly breach EU consumer protection laws.

The lawsuit targets Ryanair’s pricing transparency, specifically four areas: charges for carry-on baggage despite EU court rulings requiring its inclusion in base fares; opaque fare bundles that obscure cheaper à la carte options; misleading urgency messages about limited seat availability; and unjustified seat selection fees for adults accompanying minors.

Testachats argues these practices mislead passengers and hinder fair price comparisons, and it seeks a court order compelling Ryanair to clearly itemise optional fees at the start of the booking process. The action follows a series of complaints and regulatory rulings across Europe, including fines and enforcement actions in Italy and Spain, highlighting Ryanair’s continued use of controversial fee structures.

In response, Ryanair dismissed the claims as “false” and reaffirmed that its booking system and baggage policies fully comply with EU Regulation 1008/2008. The airline emphasised that passengers can always bring a small personal bag for free and that charging for additional baggage aligns with a 2014 EU Court of Justice ruling in the “Vueling” case.

Ryanair also criticised Testachats for focusing on what it called lawful and transparent airline policies while ignoring the “real consumer harm” caused by Online Travel Agents (OTAs) that add hidden markups.

The case could set a precedent for price transparency in the airline industry and influence how ancillary fees are disclosed across Europe.