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BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
The big change affecting European travel
The days of being charged additional fees for your hand luggage on flights could soon be a thing of the past – at least in the European Union. On 24 June, lawmakers voted in favour of a proposal allowing passengers to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg (15.4lbs) on board their flight free of charge, even on budget airlines. Under the new rule, which could take effect as early as July 2025, travellers would be allowed to bring one cabin bag measuring up to 100cm on board their flight, as well as an under-the-seat personal item with a maximum size of 40x30x15cm at no additional cost. The proposed law still requires approval from 55% of EU member states, but if adopted, the new rules would extend to all flights within the EU, as well as routes to and from the EU. "Today's vote marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel," vice-chair of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Matteo Ricci said in a press statement. "[It introduces] concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage … a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs." Previously, EU-based budget airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, Wizz and others often charged substantial fees for hand luggage, depending on its size and weight. As a result, Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry fined five budget airlines €179m (£149m) for what it deemed "abusive practices" in November 2024. The Spanish ruling, along with pressure from consumer rights associations and passengers, has paved the way for the EU to push for what it considers fairer and more consistent hand luggage rules. The carry-on proposal is part of a larger effort by the European Parliament to increase protections and rights for travellers. To ensure that families can sit together without incurring additional costs, lawmakers also voted to prohibit airlines from imposing seat selection charges for children aged 12 and under. Lawmakers also want to change the way companies handle compensation and reimbursement requests by requiring ticket vendors or third-party retailers to inform passengers of the full cost of their flight at the time of booking – including intermediation or service fees – as well as the reimbursement process. Officials also want to ensure that travellers in the EU aren't just entitled to compensation when airline delays cause them to miss their connecting flights, but also when a delay causes them to miss their connection on another mode of transport (an airport bus, for instance) when the ticket is purchased through one operator. While the new proposals may seem like a victory for passengers, not everyone is in favour of enacting them into law. Airline industry representatives are strongly opposed to waiving hand luggage fees, saying that the cost of the bag will be folded into overall prices, making them higher for everyone in the long run. Critics suggest that the new rules essentially force travellers to bring along hand luggage, since the cost will be baked into their ticket with no opportunity to opt out. "Europe's airline market is built on choice. Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need," said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines For Europe, Europe's largest airline association, in a statement. "What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't." -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
The downside of the 'free hand luggage revolution'
A landmark EU vote could soon ban airlines from charging passengers extra to carry hand luggage on board. On the surface, it seems like a victory. We've all been burnt by 'cheap' flight deals that spiral out of control once you accept that you can't fit a week's worth of clothes into one tote bag. But don't go popping the champagne just yet. Whether you're bringing a small suitcase to put into the overhead locker, or a checked bag in the hold, passengers are often expected to pay hefty sums for the privilege. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. And, those caught breaking the rules, with baggage that is too large or heavy, have been subject to dizzying fines. But now, European Union lawmakers have approved an amendment that would give people the right to travel with a 7kg carry-on bag at no extra cost. If the rule is confirmed, travellers could bring this on board for free — plus one smaller item that can fit under a seat. 'Today's vote marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel,' Matteo Ricci, vice-president of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism said. He added that free luggage was 'a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.' It's important to note though that the amendment still needs to be negotiated between EU member states, and has not yet been made official. Airlines4Europe (A4E) represents 17 airline group members across Europe — including the likes of Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet2, IAG (who own British Airways) and TUI. When asked for their thoughts on the free-hand luggage policy, they told Metro it will spell bad news for passengers. 'Europe's airline market is built on choice,' Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of A4E, said. 'Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need.' More Trending When asked exactly how passengers would now be forced to pay for hand luggage anyway, a spokesperson continued: 'There is a cost to carrying bags for airlines and the approach proposed by the Parliament means airlines will have to pass this increased cost onto all passengers, not just those who feel that a trolley bag is the choice for them that they wish to pay for.' Ourania likened the decision to 'mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket', adding: 'The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't.' It's perhaps no surprise that a coalition of European airlines will view the potential new ruling negatively. Currently, Ryanair passengers pay the airline up to £60 one way for two cabin bags. But regardless, the consequences are clear: passengers will inevitably be forced to absorb the cost lost from carry-on charges into their ticket, meaning your flight isn't suddenly going to get cheaper — or worse, it could get more expensive. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Cabin crew calls on passengers to subdue air rage woman demanding upgrade MORE: Plane shoots fire from engine mid-flight as it makes emergency landing MORE: All the food and drink banned on EasyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI flights
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
Huge news: Airlines will no longer be allowed to charge for hand luggage in Europe
We've all been there – you think you've found a decently priced budget flight to a European destination, only to be hit with a huge fee for your hand luggage. Well, it looks like those days are numbered, as lawmakers have just voted to scrap hand luggage fees on airlines across the European Union. The proposal will allow holidaymakers to travel with carry-on luggage up to 7 kilograms with no extra fee – and that's on top of your under-the-seat backpack, too. According to the European Parliament's press release, vice-president of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism Matteo Ricci said the move 'marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel' and will 'introduce concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage up to a maximum size of 100cm, a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.' Obviously, this is a massive win for travellers, but not everyone's happy about it. It's expected to hit low-cost airlines particularly hard – Ryanair, for example, made €4.7 billion last year from charging extra fees like seat selection and baggage costs. While airline lobbies have warned that the ruling could mean carriers will end up increasing their ticket prices to make up for the costs, the ruling is part of wider reforms proposed by the European Parliament on passenger rights. Further measures include allowing children under 12 to sit with their accompanying passenger free of charge, granting free seats to carers of people with reduced mobility, and forcing airlines to disclose the full cost of flights upfront. All in all, this is very good news for passengers. It's not clear when the ruling will kick in, as the proposals still need to get the final green light in a parliamentary vote. Keep an eye on this page for further details. Our travel news hub has all the latest on air travel news, from the Qatar airspace closure this week to airline and airport strikes across Europe and the winners of the latest World Airline Awards.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Major EU hand luggage rule change takes step forward - what it means for Brits
The European Union Parliament transport committee has approved a change which would allow passengers to carry handbags weighing up to 7kg without additional charges on all EU airline flights A major ruling means passengers could soon take two bags onto planes for no extra charge. On Tuesday, the EU's Transport and Tourism Committee proposed changes to EU passenger rights rules by 38 votes to two and two abstentions. While the proposals need to be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council, the decision this week is a major step forward, and a very positive one for air passenger rights. Perhaps most importantly for those who fly on budget airlines, the Committee decided that: "Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee." 'Secret weapon' lets you beat Ryanair and easyJet luggage rules That means airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, which currently charge significant sums for a second bag, wouldn't be able to demand big fees for an additional bag. On Ryanair, an extra bag in addition to the one free personal item (40 x 20 x 25 cm) that fits under the seat costs up to £36. On easyJet, the dimensions of your carry-on bag—including the handle and wheels—must not exceed 56 x 25 x 45 cm. If your bag is larger than this, you will be charged £40 to have it stored in the hold. The measure sought to spare passengers "unjustified extra costs", said Matteo Ricci, a centre-left lawmaker and bill's lead sponsor. Many low-cost air carriers include only one small on-board item in the ticket, charging extra for other hand baggage. The changes will have a big impact on UK passengers, despite the country no longer being a member of the EU. The rules would apply to EU-based airlines (such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet), including when they are carrying passengers from a non-EU country like the UK to an EU country and vice-versa. Another big change would mean airlines could no longer stop children under 12 from sitting next to their accompanying passenger free of charge. The Committee also wants more protections for persons with reduced mobility by making sure an accompanying person can travel with them free of charge, and adding a compensation right in case of loss or damage to mobility equipment or injury to an assistance animal. Airlines for Europe, an industry association, has pushed back against the hand luggage proposal, suggesting it would result in higher flight prices, upping costs for those who travel light. "Forcing a mandatory trolley bag... obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need," A4E managing director Ourania Georgoutsakou said ahead of the vote. The transport committee also voted to introduce a common form for compensation and reimbursement requests as well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can deny those.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
European officials vote to ban airline carry-on luggage fees to avoid ‘unjustified extra costs' for EU passengers
EUROPEAN officials voted yesterday to ban airline carry-on luggage fees to avoid "unjustified extra costs" for passengers. An amendment on air passenger rights was approved by the Advertisement 2 Female hand holding the luggage suitcase weighting on the kilo scales for check the weight prepare check-in at the airport terminal. Credit: Getty Images - Getty The proposal would allow The new rule - if confirmed in negotiations with And it comes in a move strongly opposed by the aviation sector. Advertisement Most read in Travel Many low-cost airlines across Europe already include only one small-board item in the ticket without charging an extra fee. In a statement before yesterday's vote, Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) said: "Europe's airline market is built on choice. "Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need." She continued: "What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? Advertisement Most read in News Travel "The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't." The new measure would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union. Dramatic moment Ryanair plane is forced to abort landing during Tenerife storm And it was adopted as part of amendments to passenger rights rules. It was proposed by the Socialist and Democrats MEP Matteo Ricci in 2023 to strengthen the enforcement of air passenger rights. Advertisement He said that the new rule sought to spare passengers of "unjustified extra costs." And the transport committee has also voted to introduce a common form for compensation and refund claims as well as a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as war or natural disaster. The proposals will go to a vote by the Council of the European Union. 2 Many low-cost airlines across Europe already include only one small-board item in the ticket without charging an extra fee Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
