Bye-Bye Baggage Fees: EU Set to Ban Charges for Hand Luggage!
Say goodbye to sneaky baggage charges. The European Union has just voted to end one of the most frustrating aspects of modern air travel: fees for hand luggage.
Under the new rules, passengers flying within the EU will be entitled to bring carry-on bags of up to 7kg — free of charge — and that’s in addition to a personal item like a small backpack or handbag.
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The change, led by the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, aims to make travel fairer and more transparent. Vice-president Matteo Ricci called it a “fundamental right” for passengers, adding that the reforms would help end “unjustified extra costs.”
Low-cost airlines, which have long relied on these charges as a major revenue stream, are expected to push back. In 2023 alone, Ryanair earned over €4.7 billion from extras like seat selection and baggage fees.
But this is just part of a broader push to improve passenger rights. Other proposals include:
Guaranteed free seating for children under 12 next to an accompanying adult
Free seating for carers of passengers with reduced mobility
Transparent ticket pricing with all fees shown upfront
While the changes haven’t come into effect yet — they still need to pass a final parliamentary vote — the message is clear: airlines can no longer nickel-and-dime passengers for basic travel essentials. And while the UK is no longer in the EU, Brits flying with EU airlines or within EU countries could still benefit once the rules take effect.
Stay tuned for updates on when the new rules will be officially rolled out.
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