'Free' Hand Baggage in Europe: What the New EU Deal Actually Means for Travelers

European travelers expecting an end to hand baggage fees may need to temper their expectations. Despite recent headlines suggesting that the European Union has banned airlines from charging for carry-on bags, the reality is far more complicated, and very little will change in the immediate future.

After years of legislative wrangling, the European Parliament has finally reached a deal on carry-on bag rules – but it is not the sweeping ban on fees that many passengers had hoped for. Rather than requiring airlines to include a carry-on bag in every fare for free, the final agreed text requires airlines to display ticket prices inclusive of a full-size carry-on bag and a personal item by default at the start of the booking process. Passengers can still opt out of the carry-on inclusion in exchange for a cheaper base fare.

A Long Road to a Watered-Down Result

The reform process originated in 2013, when the European Commission first proposed a comprehensive update to air passenger rights rules. Member state resistance kept the file dormant for over a decade. The European Parliament's transport committee voted to support stronger rules that would have allowed passengers to bring a personal item and a larger cabin bag onboard without paying extra fees. 

What the Final Deal Actually Says

Under the agreed rules, passengers would be entitled to carry one personal item and one larger cabin bag weighing up to seven kilograms and measuring no more than 100 centimeters in total dimensions – but airlines are not banned from charging for these items. Instead, they must display fares inclusive of carry-on bags by default during the booking process, with passengers given the option to drop the bag allowance in exchange for a lower fare.

The proposal builds on a 2014 ruling from the European Court of Justice, which determined that hand baggage should be considered an essential part of air travel and should not carry an additional charge, provided it meets reasonable size and weight requirements. Despite that ruling, budget airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Vueling have continued to charge passengers for larger cabin bags, arguing that their fee structures comply with European law.

Industry Opposition

Airlines for Europe, the trade group representing major carriers across the continent, has criticized the proposal throughout the legislative process, arguing that mandating free cabin bags will force airlines to raise base fares. EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis went further, calling the legislation crazy and terrible for the consumer, describing free hand luggage as a "lunatic idea" amounting to 

politicians completely not understanding their subject.

Spain has already taken matters into its own hands, fining Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, and other low-cost carriers in 2023 for charging passengers for cabin baggage and other practices the Spanish government deemed abusive. The airlines have appealed, and the matter is likely to end up before European courts – a process that could take years.

What Travelers Should Do

For travelers booking flights now, the status quo remains largely in place. If you book on Ryanair, Wizz Air, or any other budget carrier, expect to pay extra for a cabin bag larger than the small personal item allowance. Read the fine print before booking, as size and weight limits vary considerably between airlines. A bag that flies free on one carrier may incur a fee on another.

The promise of genuinely free hand baggage across Europe may eventually become reality. For now, the rules that governed your last flight will likely govern your next one as well.