EU to challenge duty free one bag rule.

Moves are afoot in Brussels to bring certain airline practices such as the renowned "one bag carry-on baggage rule" to order. A recent trade campaign by lobby group ETRC, who appear to represent European airports and their concession retailers, has stepped up their action and called all duty free and travel retailers to order and asked them to present their views to Brussels through an online EU questionnaire.

Duty Free News International one of the leading trade publications for the industry published this press release issued by the lobby group and their partners Hume Brophy of Ireland, "European Parliament calls for end of one-bag rule".

Of course, for the flyer wishing to buy goods in the airport this is all good news, but longer term is this the route that will benefit passengers? Catharine MacIntosh from zerobaggage.com thinks not as she has been developing her zero baggage concept for some time now. MacIntosh holds the theory that weight can be reduced on aircraft and that many essential goods, such as toiletries, need not be purchase or carried outbound at all. Many Eco groups seem to agree.

Meanwhile in Brussels, the EU Transport Commission wishes to legislate against many of the alleged "airline unfair practices" whilst seemingly wishing to protect the airports and ensure that the so-called "ancillary revenues" (from which airlines benefit) are more equally distributed. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times explains in detail how airports now see themselves as Mall Operators and no longer simple transport locations.

Where will this leave the passenger? Strange things can happen in life and the conventional theories do not all ways hold true. A good example of this is how everybody loves to hate Ryanair and yet their traffic grows and grows. They are now the largest airline in Europe and larger than many traditional airlines such as British Airways. They certainly make more profit.

What is it about an airline with so many alleged onerous and unfair practices that attracts more and more people to their flights? The same could be said of Spirit in the USA.

This blog advocates the sale of duty free goods on arrival as it offers the consumer a practical option, whilst avoiding all those baggage and airline liquid security issues.

Perhaps this baggage battle is not about the flyer at all, but more about who controls a larger share of the retail pie? Either way, The European Commission have decided that it is their mission to protect the traveler and to alienate foreign airlines such as the Chinese, for using too much carbon.

Whilst the airports and airlines battle it out for their share of the revenues, check before you fly to see if you can buy on arrival and how much baggage you can carry and to where.

Easter flyers braced for an airline, airport security and baggage muddle.

April’s air travellers flying to, from and through The European Union will find themselves caught in the crossfire of a political and bureaucratic transport struggle this Easter, all centred around in-flight baggage allowances, security and the transit of liquids, known as “LAGS”. (Liquids, aerosols, gels).

Different transport industry sectors, regulators and industry lobbyists are all colliding at a perfect time to meet the Easter holiday rush with a confusing and conflicting array of interests and policies. The EU Transport Commissioners have already set their deadline as April 29 for the phased re-introduction of liquids (LAGS) through airports and onto aircraft. But, only last week Airports Council North America spokesman Christopher Bidwell commented in The Washington Examiner, stating their reticence to accept the policy. This is due to the new security equipment, which will be used to screen liquids for explosives, not being fully tested and not yet properly certified. He also said that it was unclear whether the TSA would accept the arrival and transit of duty-free or other liquids into the USA from Europe or beyond.

At the same time, Keith Spinks a spokesman for ETRC, a European duty-free retail lobby group, was quoted in Duty Free News International with regard to their meeting with EU Transport and Consumer Officials saying, “Our concerns were taken on board and now we are wondering what next steps to take with the Commission.

The most pressing issue we have at the moment is those low-cost carriers that are restricting hand luggage, which directly restricts the commercial activities at airports.” This campaign refers to their desire to pressure low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair, into relaxing their “one bag rule” restrictions. Ryanair and other LCC’s are yet to enter the debate, but expect a media firestorm when Michael O’Leary joins the fray.

In the Irish Mayo Advertiser (Feb 11th) Jim Higgins, North West MEP , has confirmed the lifting of the ban by transfer passengers within the EU in April-with the ban on all travelling with liquids and gels to be lifted by 2013. Crucially, (it stated) other major markets, notably the USA, Canada and Australia are not lifting restrictions for duty free items bought in Europe as US airport officials are concerned that this would create a security gap and may confuse travellers to their country. Thus, passengers travelling to these countries and then transferring will not be able to carry purchases acquired in European duty free shops. Higgins has written to the Transport Commissioners asking them to review in-flight baggage rules.

So, where does this leave the traveller from Easter and through the summer peak season? Ivor Smith Founder of dutyfreeonarrival.com says “duty free in Europe was abolished over 10 years ago, any goods sold from airports to intra-EU travellers can be (just as) easily sold to passengers inbound on the ground and in the arrival hall. There is no longer the need for goods to be sold outbound and exported, unlike the legislation for proper non-EU duty free sales to far off destinations. In fact, EU airports are moving apace to open baggage hall shops, nearly every major UK airport terminal now has one." Smith cannot understand why The EU Transport Commission wants to penalise airlines for their carbon use, whilst trying to force them to carry more unnecessary weight on-board. He said "the Politicians seem to prefer the PR to the practicalities".

Catharine MacIntosh runs the website zerobaggage.com from Canada, where the Government is actively reviewing a policy to reverse the duty free modus operandi and introduce airport arrivals duty free shopping. On her recent blog post referring to this debate “Less baggage should increase airport revenue” she thinks that airports may be missing a huge opportunity for extra revenues, whilst the general trend is to travel light. Meanwhile other duty free and air travel related web sites are now emerging, suitearrival.com, taxfreetravel.com, luggagelimits.com and onebagger.squarepace.com all address the subject of light air travel rules and regulation. ACI have published a document on the web called "Liquids, Aerosols,& Gels. Myths and Realities".

Clearly, there is now a web market for this widely discussed and confusing subject for flyers and perhaps the free enterprise of the internet through travel bloggers and web sites, will be a solution to help, inform and advise them. Meanwhile, the Politicians seem to be muddling the issue with their attempts to assist travelers.

You can check before you fly all world airport arrivals duty free shops at http://www.dutyfreeonarrival.com/en/home/

Can online Duty Free purchases be delivered efficiently?

There is a great debate as to whether the innovative method of selling duty free online for delivery on arrival can really work and be managed efficiently by Operators. This is a foto of the online delivery facilities in Bangkok international airport operated by a large Group called "King Power". The facility is right next to the baggage carousel and has both a collection point for pre-order and a Duty Free shop. If this can be achieved at this location then there should be no reason why this facility cannot be made available in many airports. In Europe this method of delivery could be a solution to the onboard baggage restrictions being imposed by some low-cost airlines.

War of Words over Duty Free in Europe.

A war of words seems to have unfolded between the European Airports Council and Ryanair over the on-board baggage issue and the carrying of "Duty Free". Mr McNamara of Ryanair has pointed out that Ryanair only fly to 5% of locations that are legally able to sell Duty Free goods, those that are outside the EU area. Whilst Mr Jankovec, the ACI spokesman, appears to be discussing the overall concept of airport shopping, sometimes known in Europe as "Travel Value".

Of course, many people buy goods in EU airports thinking they are "Duty Free", but often they are just cheaper due to low duties in those countries, like liquors and tobaccos in Spain and Portugal.

It seems that this debate will now run and run and it will be interesting to see how it evolves, but as the debate runs, the concept of delivering "Duty Free" goods on arrival at the airports gains credibility. Buying on arrival means that passengers do not have to worry about whether their purchases will fit within the carry-on baggage allowance.