Proposed EU legislation would guarantee two pieces of carry-on baggage per passenger on European flights
Air passengers could soon be allowed two pieces of hand luggage for free as standard, under planned new European legislation.
The EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee this week voted to introduce a standardised hand luggage allowance for flights. Under the proposed rules, travellers would have the right to carry both a “small hand luggage” and a “personal item”, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop bag, at no extra cost. The proposals still have to be approved by the EU’s member states, and a time frame for implementation is unclear, although a meeting is scheduled for next month.
The weight limit for the small hand luggage is 7kg, with maximum dimensions of 100cm (the sum of the length, width and height), which is a similar size to the small bags included in most no-frills flight fares. However, travellers would benefit from an additional personal item (40cm x 30cm x 15cm), as well as common sizing rules across airlines.
“One thing that infuriates passengers is a piece of hand luggage that is accepted by one airline but doesn’t meet the ‘dimensions’ of another airline,” said Bernard Lavelle, principal aviation consultant at BL Aviation Consulting. “To my mind, standardising the size of hand luggage is a win for passengers as it reduces confusion.”
The rules are among several planned amendments to European passenger rights legislation and would apply to all flights from and within the EU, as well as flights by EU-registered airlines arriving in the EU from outside it. However, airlines would probably need to ensure their baggage policies are consistent, and the UK Government could adapt its legislation to align with the EU’s.
“The UK has generally not deviated too far from European legislation, so if the EU adopts these changes, the UK may possibly follow, although there is no guarantee they will,” Lavelle said.
Some in the industry claim the proposed baggage changes will lead to increased air fares. Ahead of this week’s vote, lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) issued a statement urging the European Parliament to reject the amendment, claiming: “The result will be higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag.”
Wizz Air, which is not a member of A4E, told The i Paper in a statement: “We strongly object to the European Parliament’s proposal, which would destroy the current commercial freedom and make flying more expensive for millions of travellers.” The airline suggested the need to include the price of hand luggage in the ticket fee would reduce transparency, force passengers to pay for services they might not need and prolong boarding times.
“Under EU law, airlines have the commercial freedom to determine the price of air fares and decide the price, weight and dimensions of hand luggage. Airlines have different business models and therefore offer different fare and ancillary products according to their respective commercial strategies. This commercial freedom fosters a dynamic and competitive market which benefits consumers by providing a range of pricing options which ultimately lowers the cost of air travel,” Wizz Air’s statement continued.
Lavelle does not see price increases as necessarily a bad thing. “If the base fare does increase, then passengers have the option of comparing this fare with other airlines and can make their own mind up as to who they want to travel with. It reduces the complexity to some degree and that has to be good news for any passenger that has tried to compare final fares across different airlines,” he said.
Charging for carry-on luggage beyond a single small bag has become increasingly common over the past decade, with Ryanair and Wizz Air introducing fees for large cabin bags in 2018 and easyJet following suit in 2021. Some airlines, such as British Airways and Jet2.com, include two pieces of cabin baggage in their base fares as standard.
The proposed hand baggage rules are among several passenger rights reforms voted for by the Transport and Tourism Committee this week. Others include proposals to simplify the compensation process for travellers whose flights are disrupted, and to narrow the definition of “extraordinary circumstances”, which allow airlines to avoid paying out.
MEPs also voted to ensure children under 12 are seated next to their accompanying passenger free of charge, and to allow passengers with reduced mobility to be accompanied by another person at no extra cost.
Current carry-on fees
Return flights from London to Palma, Mallorca, 16-21 July 2025*EasyJet from Luton
Standard fare: £73.98, including small cabin bag (up to 45cm x 36cm x 20cm and 15kg)
Standard Plus fare: £174.94, including small cabin bag, large cabin bag (up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and 15kg), up-front seat and speedy boardingRyanair from Stansted
Basic fare: £67.64, including small bag (up to 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, no weight limit)
Regular fare: £141.64: including small bag, overhead locker bag (up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and 10kg), reserved seat and priority boardingBA from Heathrow
Economy Basic fare: £192.42, including small handbag (up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and 23kg) and cabin bag (up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and 23kg)Wizz Air from Luton
Basic fare: £72.98, including small bag (40cm x 30cm x 20cm)
Wizz Smart fare: £156.98, including small bag and trolley bag (55cm x 40cm x 23cm and 10kg)*Prices correct as of 12pm, 26 June, 2025. Cheapest fare for each airline was selected for the relevant dates.