Travellers flying within the European Union will soon be able to take more items in their hand luggage at no extra charge. This is reported by Euronews, citing a large-scale reform of air passenger rights rules approved by European legislators. However, passengers departing from UK airports are unlikely to be able to take advantage of these new benefits.
What exactly will change in the rules?
Under the new rules, passengers purchasing a standard airline ticket will have the right to carry two items of hand luggage in the cabin free of charge. This list will include:
- A small personal item (for example, a bag or backpack) that must fit under the seat in front of you.
- One larger piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg with total dimensions of up to 100 cm.
The European Parliament emphasises that the new provisions enshrine passengers' right to carry a personal item in the cabin "at no extra charge", which could potentially put an end to the practice of hidden fees that airlines (especially low-cost carriers) currently widely apply for carrying hand luggage. At the same time, carriers will be allowed to offer cheaper fares for passengers who deliberately choose to fly without hand luggage, although the exact mechanism for such pricing is still being clarified.
When will the new rules come into force?
These changes are part of the first major overhaul of EU air passenger rights legislation since 2004. A preliminary agreement between the European Parliament and EU member states was reached in June 2026.
The new rules are expected to come into force no earlier than the end of 2027, with October 2027 being considered the earliest possible date for them to take effect. However, before that, the document must pass all the remaining stages of the European Union's legislative procedure.
Why won't the rule apply to flights departing from the UK?
For British passengers, the news turned out to be less rosy. After the consequences of Brexit took effect, UK citizens are no longer covered by EU internal rules concerning passenger rights on departure from the country.
According to industry publications, one of the largest airlines in the region, easyJet UK, has already confirmed that passengers on flights departing from the UK will not be able to take advantage of the new rules. This restriction will affect all British carriers, including British Airways and Jet2.
easyJet clarified that the new norms will apply to British passengers "only on return flights from EU countries". At the same time, British airlines say they are jointly reviewing their own baggage rules in anticipation of the European requirements coming into force, in order to adapt their policies to the new realities.
Conclusion
The upcoming reform is intended to make air travel within the European Union more transparent and fair for consumers, eliminating the practice of double charging for basic amenities. Nevertheless, travellers planning trips involving British airports will still have to carefully study the fare plans of specific airlines, since the UK's national rules will remain independent of the European innovations.
Source: Euronews, October 2026
