EU Baggage Policy Overhaul: Travelers Voice Mixed Reactions to Free Carry-On Proposal
The European Parliament voted in January 2026 to advance a proposal that would guarantee passengers the right to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg (15.4lbs) on board their flight without charge, even on budget carriers that have traditionally imposed fees for such items. According to the BBC, this measure represents a significant shift in policy for EU-based discount airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, and Wizz, which have historically charged substantial fees for hand luggage depending on its size and weight. "Soon they are going to charge us for breathing and using the toilets on board... Just wait," commented traveler Smara Chiorean to EUROWEEKLYNEWS, expressing frustration with the escalating fees that prompted this regulatory response.
The parliamentary action comes after Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry levied fines totaling €179m (£149m) against five budget airlines in November 2024 for what officials deemed "abusive practices," as reported by the BBC. This regulatory crackdown highlighted growing tensions between budget-conscious travelers and carriers that have increasingly relied on ancillary charges to maintain their low headline fares. The proposed changes would allow passengers to bring not only a 7kg bag but also a laptop or rucksack for free, READ4F noted, potentially eliminating a significant expense that many travelers have come to resent.
For frequent flyers like Penny Lee, these changes address mounting concerns about the value proposition of discount air travel. "I don't like the new prices; budget airlines were the go-to for the flights that let us have our dream breaks at affordable prices. Now they charge and are perhaps no longer much cheaper than the other airlines," Lee told EUROWEEKLYNEWS. Her sentiment reflects a broader disillusionment among travelers who initially flocked to low-cost carriers for their affordability but have grown frustrated with the proliferation of extra charges that can sometimes double the advertised fare.
The baggage fee structure has become a contentious issue among European travelers, with a significant number of respondents in a recent survey opposing the fees and viewing them as unreasonable, according to EUROWEEKLYNEWS. This consumer backlash appears to have influenced EU lawmakers, who have incorporated the carry-on proposal into a larger effort to enhance protections and rights for air passengers, the BBC reported. Beyond baggage allowances, the parliament also voted to prohibit airlines from imposing seat selection charges for children aged 12 and under, addressing another common complaint among family travelers.
Industry executives have pushed back against the proposed regulations. The potential policy shift has been "branded 'lunatic'" by at least one airline executive this week, according to READ4F, highlighting the financial implications for carriers that have come to rely on baggage fees as "a high-margin revenue stream." This resistance underscores the economic importance of these ancillary charges to the budget airline business model, which has traditionally operated on razor-thin margins for base fares while generating substantial profits from add-on services.
For travelers, the proposed changes represent a potential return to more transparent pricing. The European Parliament's action aims to establish what they consider "a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs," addressing a common grievance among passengers who feel misled by advertised fares that bear little resemblance to the final price after all necessary add-ons are included. The carry-on proposal specifically targets what many travelers view as an essential aspect of air travel that shouldn't incur additional fees.
The path to implementation remains complex. While the European Parliament has approved the proposal, it still requires endorsement from at least 55% of EU member states before becoming law, the BBC explained. If adopted following negotiations scheduled to begin in July 2026, the new regulations would apply to all flights within the EU, as well as routes to and from EU airports, creating a consistent standard across a market that serves hundreds of millions of passengers annually.
For budget carriers, these regulatory changes could force a significant rethinking of pricing strategies. The baggage fee system has evolved into a crucial component of their financial structure, with some airlines generating substantial portions of their revenue from these charges. The READ4F report indicated that the proposed changes "threaten to strip back baggage fees" that have become essential to many carriers' profitability, potentially leading to adjustments in base fare pricing to compensate for lost ancillary revenue.
Consumer advocates view the parliamentary action as a necessary correction to practices they consider exploitative. The Spanish government's substantial fines against budget carriers in 2024 signaled growing regulatory concern about airline fee structures, with officials determining that some practices crossed the line from legitimate business strategy to consumer abuse, as reported by the BBC. The EU proposal represents a broader, more systematic approach to addressing these concerns across the entire European aviation market.
For passengers who have grown accustomed to carefully calculating the true cost of budget flights by factoring in various add-on fees, the proposed changes could simplify the booking process and reduce unexpected expenses at the airport. The standardization of free carry-on allowances would eliminate one of the most common sources of confusion and frustration, particularly for infrequent travelers who may be less familiar with each airline's specific policies.
As the proposal moves through the EU's legislative process, both travelers and airlines will be watching closely to see whether this marks the beginning of a more comprehensive reassessment of the budget airline pricing model. The passenger rights initiative reflects evolving expectations about transparency and fairness in air travel, with European regulators increasingly willing to intervene when they determine that market practices are disadvantaging consumers. For individual travelers across Europe, the outcome of this regulatory process could meaningfully impact both their travel experiences and their wallets in the coming years.