At European airports, passengers are increasingly encountering unexpected surcharges for hand luggage — and now a reform is looming on the horizon that promises to restore the balance. From 2027, a standard ticket in the EU will apparently allow two items to be carried without an extra charge: a small personal item under the seat and a bag weighing up to seven kilograms with dimensions of no more than one hundred centimetres in total.
A deal between lawmakers and member states was reached back in June 2026, and the European Parliament approved the package in July. The changes are part of a large-scale revision of passenger rights — the first since 2004. Airlines will have to indicate the price with hand luggage included from the very start of booking, which will make it easier to compare fares and may put an end to hidden fees.
This measure is not only about the convenience of travellers. Airlines have long used hand luggage as a source of additional income, especially on short flights within Europe. The new rules will apparently make it possible to offer cheaper tickets to those who travel light, while at the same time protecting those who are not prepared to give up a minimum of comfort.
The reform also touches on broader issues: transparency of pricing, the fight against overtourism and pressure on budget carriers. Amid rising fuel prices and tightening environmental standards, every extra penny for baggage becomes a tool for survival for airlines, but for passengers it is yet another irritant.
Picture an ordinary morning flight from Paris to Rome: a person with a laptop and a small bag at the check-in desk learns that the second item will cost 40 euros. The new rule, if it comes into force, will relieve this petty but constant tension. However, the exact timing and details of pricing remain a subject of discussion for now.
In the end, the changes concern not only the size of suitcases, but also how fairly airlines will play with passengers at a time when every flight is a balance between profit and trust.
