Airlines operating in the European Union have been told they must allow passengers to take two free bags in hand luggage, with the new regulations set to come into force on October 23, 2027. The rule, approved by the European Parliament and Council this summer, means anyone flying in the EU must be permitted to carry one personal item on board—such as a small bag or backpack—in addition to the hand luggage that fits under the seat in front.
New rules for personal items and pricing
A spokesman for the European Parliament said: “The new rules now include the right to carry on board, without additional fee, one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack.” The personal item is in addition to one small bag that must fit under the seat in front of the passenger or be no bigger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm.
The new rules also require airlines to advertise prices that include luggage when the booking process begins, rather than adding them later as an “extra”. The act has been signed by the EU Council and Parliament and published in the EU’s Official Journal.
Implementation and exemptions
The Official Journal reads: “Operating air carriers shall, subject to the capacity of the aircraft cabin, permit passengers to carry a piece of hand baggage into the cabin.” If the cabin is full, some bags may have to be checked in at no additional cost.
The European Parliament said the changes are expected to come into force from October 23, 2027. It added: “To create price transparency, air fares including allowance for a piece of hand baggage shall be displayed by default before the start of any booking process to facilitate fare comparisons between airlines. Negotiators agreed that airlines may offer cheaper tickets for passengers who choose voluntarily to travel without hand luggage.”
Impact on UK flights
It is unclear exactly how flights from the UK will change, as the rules apply in the EU. Rules depend on the departure airport and carrier, not nationality. UK airlines will have to honour the rules on flights departing EU airports, but UK-departing flights could still carry hand luggage charges.
Harry Deacon, travel expert from Holafly, said: “For far too long the rules on hand luggage have been the most aggravating aspect of travel within Europe. One airline on the same route can have a very different allowance from another, and many passengers only discover what they will pay when they reach checkout, or worse still, the airport gate. The inclusion of a free personal item with every flight and the knowledge in advance of what your hand baggage allowance is would go a long way towards making fares more comparable.”
He added: “That all said, I would be wary of sites offering 'free cabin luggage' as a synonym for 'every bag is free'. The personal item is a bit more certain, but the larger cabin bag will still depend on your fare and airline policy and the regulations don't kick in until October 2027. Until then, nothing has changed at the airport. My best advice is to continue to measure your bag against each airline's limits, to carefully check what your fare includes before paying, and to compare the overall price and not the headline fare. And remember that, flying from the UK, you will still be charged on the outbound, even when the return from the EU is free.”
“All in all, this is a major move toward easier-to-understand, more equitable air travel. Passengers should get used to reading fare information now, because they're going to need to do it even more once the new regulation takes effect.”
