Good news for people flying to France as EU clarifies luggage rule change
The EU previously ruled that airlines must accept hand luggage of a reasonable size but did not define ‘reasonable’
Clarification on hand luggage rules need to be voted on by MEPs
Rizky Ade Jonathan/Shutterstock
Greater clarity on hand luggage requirements are set to come into force for those flying to and from the EU, as the bloc looks to standardise rules on this after years of differing interpretations.
EU-based airlines flying to or from an EU-destination must offer free ‘underseat’ luggage fitting a certain dimension – including wheels and handles – to all passengers, European Transport Ministers agreed last week.
It is not restricted to intra-EU flights but includes any flight operated by EU-based airlines to or from worldwide destinations including the UK, where either the departure or arrival airport is in the bloc.
The rules would apply to airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and the several others with headquarters in the EU.
This forms part of a set of wider changes planned for air travel agreed by ministers which include changes to delayed flight compensation. It is now subject to a vote and approval by the EU Parliament.
Free piece of underseat luggage – but not overhead
Several years ago the EU ruled that airlines must accept hand luggage of a ‘reasonable’ size without charge, but did not specify what was meant by reasonable, leading to differing interpretations.
Last year, Spain fined several airlines a combined €179 million over the practice of charging for hand luggage, and consumer associations across the bloc have also denounced the practice.
The new proposals would see all airlines having to accept one free piece of hand luggage to fit under the seat of the passenger in front.
This bag must fit the dimension of, or be smaller than 40x30x15cm, including any wheels or handles.
This has the benefit of universalising the requirements, although in some cases airlines already offer more than this – currently, easyJet allows a free carry-on within the dimensions of 45x36x20cm, while Ryanair offers one up to the limit of 40x20x25cm.
Airlines will not be able to charge for luggage within this dimension, but will be able to charge those who want to take larger pieces of luggage onboard.
Ministers did not agree on the matter of overhead luggage – cabin bags that fit in the lockers above passengers – and whether these should be offered free of charge which is another point of contention.
Most budget airlines only accept hand luggage that goes under-the-seat for free, and passengers wanting to place items in the overhead compartments must pay.
However, some airlines such as British Airways provide overhead luggage as standard with all tickets.
Ryanair said that if airlines were forced to include additional carry-on bags as part of the basic fare, it would reduce choice and drive up air fares for all passengers.
