Travellers across Europe could soon stop paying extra just to bring a small bag on board. Following roughly thirteen years of back and forth between EU institutions, negotiators from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have finally settled on a new set of air passenger protections, and scrapping hand luggage fees is the headline change.
Why this matters for anyone booking a flight
Budget airlines have long charged passengers separately for anything beyond a small under seat bag, turning what looks like a cheap fare into a much pricier ticket once luggage is added. The new agreement pushes back against that model directly, requiring airlines to fold a cabin bag allowance into the advertised price rather than treating it as an optional extra.
Bookings will also need to show the full fare upfront, including that luggage allowance, so travellers can genuinely compare prices between carriers instead of discovering hidden costs partway through checkout.
What size bag will be allowed
Passengers will be entitled to bring one cabin bag measuring up to 40 by 30 by 15 centimetres without paying anything extra, on top of the smaller item that already fits under the seat in front of them.
Not every airline is covered
There’s an important limit to keep in mind. The rule only applies to carriers based in the EU. Airlines registered outside the bloc, including easyJet and Jet2, won’t automatically be bound by it, meaning their existing baggage charges could still apply. One exception: flights heading back to the UK from an EU country will fall under the new protections regardless of which airline operates them.
Broader protections beyond luggage
Cutting baggage fees is just one part of a wider package. The agreement also makes it easier for passengers to get compensation and support when flights are delayed or cancelled, and it introduces stronger safeguards for travellers with additional needs, including people with disabilities, those with reduced mobility, and pregnant passengers.
Cyprus’s transport minister, Alexis Vafeades, welcomed the outcome after more than a decade of talks, framing it as a long overdue update that gives millions of European flyers more certainty and stronger legal protection, while still leaving airlines enough flexibility to keep their networks running profitably across the EU’s internal market.
