The end of extra fees for bringing a cabin bag on planes? EU plans change to airline rules
Passengers might soon be able to bring a cabin bag onto flights operated by EU airlines for free under new rules.
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European Union lawmakers have voted to approve a proposal that will ban airlines from charging passengers extra fees to bring carry-on luggage on board.
If approved, the rules will give holidaymakers the right to bring a handbag or suitcase weighing up to 7kg and measuring less than 100cm free of charge.
Passengers will also be allowed to bring a smaller personal item which fits under their seat.
The rules would apply to all flights between the EU and UK, as well as all flights within the EU.
"Today's vote marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel,” Matteo Ricci, vice-president of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism said.
He added that the bill will “introduce concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage up to a maximum size of 100cm, a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs".
Ricci, who is the bill’s lead sponsor, said free hand luggage was “a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs”, ensuring a “fairer and more efficient system”.
The change could deal a significant blow to budget airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, who all charge extra for cabin luggage.
But the bad news is that some airlines might try to recoup the loss in revenue by raising ticket prices.
Airlines for Europe Managing Director Ourania Georgoutsakou told Politico: “The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don’t.”
The organisation, which says it represents 70% of European air traffic, added that its members wouldn’t be able to implement the change because of a lack of space on board.
These member airlines include British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet, as well as Jet2, Buzz and TUI.
A typical airplane cabin has 180 seats, but only fits about 90 trolley bags in the overhead storage compartments.
While the proposal has been approved by the European Parliament, it still needs to be approved by at least 55% of EU member states.
But this can take a while, and airplane lobbies will be expected to push back on the law in the meantime.
During the meeting, the EU transport committee also agreed that airlines should be banned from being able to charge a seat selection fee for children under the age of 12.
It also wants to introduce a standardised, common form passengers can fill out across airlines for compensations and reimbursement requests.
EU/UK flights today
Airlines currently set their own cabin baggage policies. Typically, a passenger may bring:
- One small personal item (e.g. handbag or laptop bag), plus possibly:
- One larger cabin bag (the size and weight limits—such as 56×45×25 cm or ~100 cm linear and weights between 7–15 kg—vary by airline).
Many budget carriers have introduced fees for wheeled cabin bags. For instance, Ryanair only allows small personal bags for free unless you pay for priority, and easyJet charges extra for overhead cabin bags on standard fares.
New proposed rules
The EU Parliament’s Transport Committee has approved a proposal that would:
- Ban airlines from charging for cabin baggage entirely,
- Guaranteed free allowance includes: One small personal item (max ~40×30×15 cm), one larger cabin bag for overhead storage, up to: 7 kg in weight and 100 cm total dimensions (sum of L+W+H)
Beyond baggage, this package also introduces other passenger rights like free seat selection for minors, assistance for reduced mobility, and standardised compensation forms .
Which airlines will it apply to?
If enacted, the new rules would apply to all airlines operating flights from or within EU territory (including low-cost and full-service carriers), and those travelling between the EU and the UK. That means it would affect:
- Full-service carriers (e.g., British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM)
- Low-cost airlines (e.g., Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Wizz Air, Volotea)
- Any other airlines operating EU-inclusive routes