Travellers in the European Union will be able to fly with a free item of hand luggage under new air passenger rights rules expected to come into force from 23 October 2027.
The new rules, officially signed by the Council and Parliament last month and published in the EU’s Official Journal on 2 October, include the right to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, without an additional fee. This is in addition to a small personal bag that must fit under the seat or have maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm.
The ruling will entitle passengers to a free personal item that fits under the seat, plus one cabin bag weighing up to 7kg with combined dimensions of 100cm. Airlines will also be required to advertise ticket prices that include luggage from the beginning of the booking process.
However, UK travellers may still have to pay hand luggage fees on the outward leg of their journey. As the UK is no longer an EU member, airlines may only need to follow these rules on return flights into countries covered by EU passenger rights regulations.