The company started using new designations for the different types of hand luggage, in a change that came into effect last Tuesday, June 23, and which aims to simplify the flight booking process, without changing rules regarding weight, dimensions or transport conditions. The change occurs in a broader context of reviewing European standards for air passenger rights and is already visible on the company’s digital channels.
What until now was designated as “personal accessories” is now identified as “personal carry-on luggage”, including small backpacks or computer briefcases that must be placed under the front seat.
The so-called “cabin baggage”, transported in the upper compartments, is now differentiated according to the permitted weight. On flights in Tourist and Premium Tourist class, the limit of 10 kilos is maintained, while in Business class the maximum authorized remains at 12 kilos.
It should be noted that the change does not imply any change in the material conditions of transport, it is merely a reorganization of the way in which services are presented to the passenger at the time of purchase.
Integrated changes to European rules
The measure comes in the wake of an agreement reached in the European Union on new air passenger rights, a process that took place over several years and which aims to update rules in force since 2004.
The new European framework includes the maintenance of compensation for delays, which remain set at 250 euros for journeys of up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros for journeys between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers and 600 euros for longer distances.
The same source adds that changes are also planned such as the right to transport a personal item at no additional cost, the obligation to always present the final price with luggage included at the beginning of the booking process and new guarantees for passengers with reduced mobility.
The package of measures also includes rules that reinforce the protection of passengers in airport assistance situations and the possibility for children and people with reduced mobility to travel with their companions at no additional cost.
Impact on the booking process
Iberia introduced these changes to its direct channels, including its website and mobile app, where the new terminology already appears during ticket purchases. The company frames the change as a way to make the information available to passengers clearer, aligning the presentation of the offer with the new regulatory discussions underway at European level.
The proposals will still have to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before they come into force, but they already represent a relevant change in the framework of passenger rights and in the way airlines communicate their services.
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