New EU rules & Ryanair baggage changes might affect your next trip
Get ready, European travellers! The days of meticulously weighing your carry-on and dreading those extra baggage fees might soon be a distant memory. Significant changes are on the horizon for air travel within the European Union, promising a fairer and more transparent experience for passengers.
On June 24th, EU lawmakers took a monumental step, voting in favour of a proposal that could see passengers bringing a small carry-on bag, weighing up to 7kg (15.4lbs), onto their flights free of charge. This isn’t just for full-service airlines; budget airlines will also be included under the proposed new rule.
Under this new regulation, travellers would be entitled to one cabin bag up to 100cm in total dimensions, alongside an under-the-seat personal item with a maximum size of 40x30x15cm, all at no additional cost. While still requiring approval from 55% of EU member states and ongoing negotiations starting this July, if adopted, these rules would revolutionise air travel across the EU and for routes to and from the bloc.
“Today’s vote marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel,” stated Matteo Ricci, vice-chair of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). He emphasized the “clear definition of free hand luggage… a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.”
This move comes after years of frustration for passengers. Previously, EU-based budget airlines like EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air often imposed substantial fees for hand luggage based on size and weight. This practice even led to Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry fining five budget airlines a hefty €179m (£149m) in November 2024 for “abusive practices.” Such rulings, coupled with consistent pressure from consumer rights associations, have paved the way for the EU to push for what it deems fairer and more consistent hand luggage rules.
The carry-on proposal is part of a broader effort by the European Parliament to enhance traveller protections. In a welcome move for families, lawmakers also voted to prohibit airlines from charging for seat selection for children aged 12 and under, ensuring families can sit together without incurring additional costs.
Compensation & Transparency Improvements
Beyond baggage, lawmakers are also targeting compensation and reimbursement. New regulations would require ticket vendors to inform passengers of the full flight cost at the time of booking, including any intermediation or service fees, and clearly outline the reimbursement process. Furthermore, officials aim to extend compensation rights beyond missed connecting flights due to airline delays to include missed connections on another mode of transport (e.g., airport buses) when purchased through a single operator.
Industry Opposition & Ryanair’s Response
While these proposals sound like a clear win for passengers, not everyone is in agreement. Airline industry representatives are strongly opposed to waiving hand luggage fees, arguing that these costs will simply be absorbed into overall ticket prices, leading to higher fares for everyone in the long run. Critics, like Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines For Europe, Europe’s largest airline association, suggest these new rules could ironically force travellers to pay for services they don’t necessarily want or need. “Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,” she stated. “The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, and importantly, what services they don’t.”
Ryanair to Boost Free Cabin Bag Size as Airlines Adopt Minimum Dimensions
Despite some industry opposition to the broader EU proposals, there’s already movement on the ground regarding bag sizes. Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, has announced it will increase its free cabin baggage allowance “over the coming weeks.” Currently, Ryanair’s free “personal bag” is 40 x 25 x 20cm (20 litres). Following an agreement among European airlines to adopt a new minimum size for cabin luggage, Ryanair will increase one dimension from 25 to 30cm, making their new dimensions 40 x 30 x 20cm, a more generous 24 litres. This is notably larger than the newly announced European minimum bag size of 40 x 30 x 15cm. This decision means that existing “Ryanair-compatible” cabin bags will remain usable.
This move by Ryanair and the ongoing discussions with the EU transport commissioner, Adina Valean, reflect a desire from the trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) to simplify life for passengers. Any traveller purchasing a bag no bigger than 40 x 30 x 15cm will be guaranteed to take it on board, bringing more clarity to passengers across Europe. Most other major carriers, including British Airways, Jet2, and easyJet, already offer allowances that exceed these new “standardised” dimensions. EasyJet, for example, will maintain its current dimensions of 45 x 36 x 20cm, offering a maximum volume of 32 litres.
While MEPs voted last month to mandate all airlines to allow passengers two pieces of cabin baggage, this particular proposal faces strong opposition from Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, who deem it unworkable. The airlines believe that reaching an agreement on a minimum bag size, as seen with Ryanair’s recent announcement, increases the likelihood of persuading officials not to impose a two-bag limit.
As these changes unfold, one thing is clear: the landscape of European air travel is set for a significant transformation. Whether it leads to unequivocally “fairer” and more “transparent” travel for all remains to be seen, but passengers can certainly anticipate some notable adjustments to their next European adventure.