DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

20 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

KLM accused of profiteering with trial of hand baggage charges

July 15, 2025
Photo: DutchNews.nl

The consumer rights watchdog Consumentenbond has accused KLM of raising charges for hand luggage by stealth by trialling no-frills fares on several European routes this autumn.

KLM is introducing “basic” fares from Amsterdam and Paris to nine destinations including Vienna, Stockholm and Dublin.

Passengers will only be allowed to take one small suitcase with a maximum size of 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, unless they pay extra for a second bag, a formula already used by many budget airlines.

According to the Consumentenbond the price of a return ticket will be €8 cheaper on average, but the charge for taking hand luggage will be €28.

“Consumers will be paying an extra €20 on average for a return flight,” said managing director Sandra Molenaar. “It’s simple profiteering by KLM.”

The Consumentenbond has added KLM and its sister airline Air France to a list of seven carriers who are the subject of a mass claim for imposing unfair charges.

The organisation said KLM’s new tariffs were confusing for passengers and contravened a European court ruling from 2014 that said a plane ticket should always allow passengers to take a reasonable amount of luggage for no extra cost.

“Travellers assume they can take a wheeled suitcase on board for free with KLM,” said Molenaar. “That’s now changing for some destinations without being announced clearly.”

KLM rejected the accusation and said it was bearing in mind ongoing discussions in the EU about standardising the rules for hand luggage.

“We are facing challenges in the area of hand luggage because we see people are taking more with them. Because this can lead to delays and arguments with passengers, we are now proposing this charge,” a spokesman told AD.nl.

Last year Spain’s consumer rights ministry fined five budget airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, for “abusive practices”, including charging for carry-on luggage or reserving seats for children. The airlines have appealed against the ruling.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Airlines Consumer rights Society Tourism
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Europe at risk of cyberattacks because of “digital dependency”
The big election issues: climate change and the environment
Ajax's home defeat to AZ fuels speculation over Heitinga future
The Dutch are frustrated by lack of political progress
Just dance! Amsterdam Dance Event invites young and old to party
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now