The Brussels Commercial Court has ruled that several of Ryanair’s online booking practices are unlawful, confirming long-standing complaints from consumer group Test Achats, supported by Euroconsumers. The court ordered the Irish airline to change its practices within three months or face a daily fine of €5,000.
Test Achats filed a lawsuit in May 2025, arguing that Ryanair misled passengers during the booking process and violated consumer rights. The court highlighted three major areas of concern.
First, Ryanair’s bundled fare packages were found to be misleading. Passengers selecting a “Regular” fare are automatically offered extras such as priority boarding and reserved seating, even if they only plan to take hand luggage. While these services can be purchased separately for a lower price, Ryanair does not make this clear during the booking process, pushing customers toward more expensive packages.
Second, the court ruled that the airline’s use of false scarcity messages, such as “only 5 seats left at this price,” was illegal. These warnings, displayed alongside a new price in red beside a crossed-out fare, create a sense of urgency that pressures customers to book immediately. Test Achats presented cases showing that prices sometimes dropped after the warning appeared, proving the claims were misleading.
Third, Ryanair’s baggage pricing practices were deemed non-transparent. The airline does not display separate fees for checked baggage for outbound and return flights, making it difficult for passengers to understand the total cost of their journey. The court emphasised that all prices must be visible from the start of the booking process.
“Passengers have the right to see prices clearly, separately for each service, from the start of the booking process, so they can make informed choices and pay only for what they actually need,” said Jean-Philippe Ducart, spokesperson for Test Achats.
The court did not find Ryanair’s policies on hand luggage included in the ticket price or surcharges for sitting next to a minor illegal. However, at the same time as the European Parliament, Test Achats is pushing for stronger European regulations that could require airlines to include 7 kg of hand luggage in every ticket and allow an accompanying adult to sit next to a minor for free.
Ryanair has faced repeated clashes with Belgian authorities. Most recently, the airline cut 1 million seats at Brussels and Charleroi airports in response to higher Belgian ticket taxes introduced to reduce carbon emissions. Ryanair criticised the measure as a burden on low-cost travel, highlighting ongoing tensions with Belgian regulators.
