KLM is to become the first of the major European legacy airlines to start charging passengers to check in their luggage for short-haul flights.
Until now Europe’s traditional airlines such as Air France, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa have prided themselves on not burdening passengers with ancillary charges as do the no-frills carriers.
But Dutch carrier KLM is the first to break ranks. Reports today (February 13) in the Dutch media say that, starting in April, KLM will charge short-haul passengers fees of either €15 (when paid in advance) or €30 (when paid at the airport) for pieces of checked baggage.
Hand luggage will remain free and the charges will not apply to passengers flying long-haul. Certain members of KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty scheme will also escape the new fees.
At the same time, it’s understood that KLM will strictly enforce rules for hand baggage. According to the reports, any bag which doesn’t meet KLM’s 55 x 25 x 35 cm, 12-kilogramme allowance will be placed in the hold and the unlucky passenger will be charged €30 at the gate.
KLM said that 60 to 70 per cent of its passengers carry only hand luggage. The airline added that passengers would prefer to pay less for their flights and that is why it has decided to bring in the fee.
Many - if not most - of KLM passengers are travelling through, rather than to or from, Schiphol. The charges will not apply to business class passengers and those in transit on long-haul flights.
Most large airlines lose money flying within Europe yet cannot charge profitable prices because of fierce competition from budget carriers and ground transport options.
Ancillary fees (like the checked baggage charge) are one way of raising extra cash without hiking the headline price.
KLM says it is adapting its product to account for “behavioural changes” by passengers. It says that the new paid baggage option is part of its ‘Choice and Control’ service for passengers.
The fees take effect for bookings made on or after April 22. Passengers can avoid them by booking flights before that date.
klm.com