Whilst there are very few arts that I’ve mastered quite as finely as that of packing my hand-luggage; the start of my holidays would certainly be made a tad less stressful if I didn’t have to scurry past the boarding desk, holding my breath, and hoping to the holiday-gods that the person checking my passport doesn’t clock the the three extra bags I’ve got shoved under my jumper. I imagine I’d enjoy the experience a whole lot more if I were able to casually stroll onto the plane, knowing that I wasn’t breaking any rules, and that I wasn’t about to be hit with a mighty extra baggage fee. And it seems as though my passenger prayers are finally being answered.
After over a decade of negotiations, the European Council and European Parliament have officially just signed a deal to introduce new rules regarding hand luggage and compensation for delays. The new regulations in question will come into effect in 2027, and will mean that travelers flying around Europe will no longer need to fork out for hand luggage. All passengers will be entitled to up to seven kilograms worth of carry-on luggage and a small under-seat item.
The new ruling is bring introduced in a bid to make travel expenses more predictable for fliers. Once it officially comes into effect next year, the cost of cabin baggage must automatically be included within flight ticket prices. This means that it’s pretty darn likely that some of the lower-cost airlines will up their ticket prices to make up for the the fact they’ll be losing out on the fees that they currently charge for extra hand luggage.
The cabin baggage rule come as part of the European Council and European Parliament’s wider efforts to increase the rights of airline passengers. The new regulations will also change the way that airlines handle their compensation claims, making them clearer and fairer for fliers. Once the new law kicks in, travelers within Europe will be entitled to €300 compensation for delayed flights that are over 3,500km and €600 if the delay exceeds 4 hours or leads to a cancelled flight.
