Flying around Europe looks set to get a little cheaper for hand-luggage lovers. The European Parliament and member states have agreed a provisional deal that would force airlines to include two pieces of cabin baggage in every standard ticket — at no extra charge. It's the first big rewrite of EU air passenger rights since 2004, and it could land as soon as October 2027, pending the final steps of the legislative process.
Here's what a standard fare would include: one small personal item, like a handbag or laptop backpack, that fits under the seat in front, plus one proper cabin bag with a combined dimension of up to 100cm and a weight limit of 7kg. That second bag — the one budget airlines typically charge for — is the real win. The European Parliament says passengers will have the right to bring a personal item on board "without additional fee", which should rein in some of the add-on charges carriers have stacked up in recent years.
There's a wrinkle for bargain hunters: airlines can still sell cheaper fares to people who travel with no hand luggage at all. Exactly how that pricing model will work hasn't been spelled out yet, so expect some creative fare names when the rules kick in. The baggage change sits inside a wider overhaul of EU passenger rights that also touches delays, cancellations and compensation.
If you're flying from a UK airport, though, don't count on the freebie. Post-Brexit, UK passengers aren't covered by EU passenger rights on outbound journeys. easyJet UK has confirmed the new rules will apply to its UK customers only on return flights from EU countries, and the same logic applies across the board — British Airways, Jet2 and other UK-based carriers aren't bound by the EU law on departures from Britain. The silver lining: easyJet says it and other British airlines are reviewing their own baggage policies ahead of the change, partly to keep things consistent for returning UK travellers.
The practical takeaway: from late 2027, a Rome-to-Brussels or Madrid-to-Lisbon flight should come with a roller bag included in the base fare. The same flight booked from London to Rome would still be subject to UK rules going out — and EU rules coming back. Worth factoring in when you compare fares, because a cheap headline price with paid cabin bags could look less appealing than an EU-departing ticket where the bag is bundled.
