Europeans flying within the EU are getting a clearer deal on hand luggage. A major update to EU air passenger rights — the first in more than two decades — was signed into law on 16 September 2026 and takes effect on 22 October 2026, with the new rules applying to passengers from 23 October 2027.
The headline change: every airline will have to let you bring a personal item into the cabin free of charge. It must either measure no more than 40 × 30 × 15 cm or fit under the seat in front of you, and meet basic safety requirements. On top of that, depending on your fare, you may still bring a separate carry-on bag — though lawmakers stopped short of imposing a common 7 kg weight limit or fixed maximum dimensions, so airlines keep some wiggle room.
There is one catch worth knowing before you board. The right to bring bags into the cabin is subject to available space, so on a full flight your bag might end up in the hold. If that happens, the airline must check it in at no extra cost to you.
Transparency gets a boost too. Airlines and booking intermediaries will have to show, by default, fares that include a hand baggage allowance before you start the booking process. The idea is to end the whack-a-mole of hidden bag fees that make it nearly impossible to compare a budget fare against a full-service one. The rules also strengthen protections around delays and cancellations, claims procedures, rights for passengers with reduced mobility, and ban "no-show" penalties that void return flights.
Post-Brexit travellers should pay attention to the fine print. Coverage depends on where you depart and which airline operates the flight, not your passport. Flying from a UK airport, you could still be charged for hand luggage. But EU carriers flying from the UK to the EU can fall under the rules, and UK airlines like British Airways and easyJet UK must comply on flights departing from EU airports. In short: the protection follows the route, not the traveller.
For anyone booking a 2027 city break, beach hop or business trip through the EU, this simplifies things considerably. You can finally plan around a guaranteed free under-seat bag on any EU departure, and fare comparison should get more honest once bag-inclusive prices are shown upfront. Just check the dimensions your airline specifies — a universal right to a personal item doesn't mean a universal size, and the classic 40 × 30 × 15 cm backpack is your safest bet. Full coverage arrives on 23 October 2027, so flights booked before then run under the old rules.
Story via Travel Tomorrow.
