Ryanair will alter its complimentary hand luggage policy in the upcoming month.
New regulations set to be implemented by the European Union (EU) this month aim to bring clarity and fairness to air travel by banning airlines from charging extra fees for small hand luggage and setting clear, standard size limits for free carry-on bags.
The key points of the reforms include the following:
1. Passengers will have the right to bring two pieces of free carry-on luggage: - A personal bag (handbag, laptop bag, rucksack) with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 cm. - A small hand luggage bag with total linear dimensions up to 100 cm (e.g., 45 x 35 x 20 cm) and a weight limit of 7 kilograms.
These free items must be allowed onboard without extra charges by all airlines operating in the EU, including budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air. The total size of the small hand luggage (100 cm linear dimensions) corresponds to about 37 litres volume, which is smaller than the current standard allowance for paid trolley bags on many airlines.
The legislation, passed by the European Parliament and expected to come into effect around July 2025, is intended to improve transparency and fairness for passengers, preventing surprising baggage fees and making hand luggage allowances more consistent across all EU flights.
Regarding the impact on airports' baggage sizers, airports and airlines will need to adjust or replace baggage sizers to enforce the new EU-defined limits on carry-on bags precisely. The sizers must accommodate the new maximum dimensions: one compartment for the personal bag (around 40x30x15 cm) and another for the small hand luggage (linear sum of 100 cm or its equivalent dimensions).
Since the new rules standardize and reduce the size allowed for free hand luggage compared to some current airline policies (especially for paid bags), baggage sizers at airports and boarding gates might become more compact, focusing on enforcing the smaller 100 cm linear size limit. These changes could lead to a simplification of the baggage checking process but might require investment in new sizers that clearly differentiate between personal items and small carry-on bags to avoid confusion and ensure compliance with EU regulations.
In summary, the EU's new hand luggage regulations establish a two-bag free allowance with strict size limits, ending extra fees for small hand luggage, and will necessitate updates to airport baggage sizers to reflect these precise size standards. These changes are expected to benefit city-hoppers, family travellers, and everyone else with the same clear rule across A4E members' networks.
[1] The Telegraph. (2023). EU to ban airlines from charging for small hand luggage. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-for-small-hand-luggage/ [2] BBC News. (2023). EU hand luggage rules: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65423886 [3] Sky News. (2023). EU to ban airlines from charging for small hand luggage. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-for-small-hand-luggage-12606244
The EU's new hand luggage regulations will allow passengers to bring two free carry-on items: a personal bag and a small hand luggage bag, both without extra charges. These free items must fall within specific size limits for a more consistent hand luggage allowance across all EU flights, enabling travelers to better plan their lifestyle while adhering to the new EU regulations.
