International Consolidated Airlines Group's (IAG) budget airline Vueling has been hit by a competition probe in Italy over 'profiling' customers and charging different fees for carry-on luggage depending on how they book.
Italy's competition authority, Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato or AGCM, claims that the Spanish airline has not been upfront about differing hand luggage costs depending on whether the customer uses the company's website or mobile app to purchase tickets.
"It would seem that the device used by the consumer is also used as a parameter to proceed with customer profiling in such a way as to differentiate the purchase price of the ticket," the AGCM said in a statement.
If such practices are proven the watchdog said it could represent "non-transparent and omissive information" on how Vueling sets prices.
Vueling's response statement asserted that its luggage pricing model is "transparent and complies with the regulations".
The airline denied any discrepancies in fees based on the device used or whether the customer accessed its website or app. Vueling also committed to closely collaborating with the Italian officials to furnish any required information and resolve uncertainties.
IAG also owns airline brands like British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus.
This investigation follows an earlier probe in Spain where the Ministry of Consumer Affairs opened proceedings against several 'low-cost' airlines for charging hand luggage transported, following complaints filed against Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Volotea and Eurowings. The Spanish regulator said Eurowings would not be among those being prosecuted.