EU Mandates Free Hand Luggage on Flights, Challenging Budget Airlines’ Fees

The European Union has asked airlines to allow passengers to board planes with a free piece of hand luggage. The Petitions Committee of the European Parliament approved this measure on September 21, 2023, following an initiative by Spanish MEP Jordi Cañas, who asks to consider hand luggage as an "essential element" for the passenger and which, consequently, cannot be subject to an additional cost.

Despite this decision, some airlines such as Raynair, EasyJet, Vueling and Volotea continued to charge for hand luggage, which led the Ministry of Consumption to open a sanctions file against these companies last August, reports 20minutos. According to article 97 of the Air Navigation Act, the transport of luggage is free, its cost being already included in the price of the ticket. The hitch is the weight of the luggage and the limits set by each airline.

Generally, the maximum weight is set at 10 kilos, but some airlines like Qatar Airways and Emirates set it at 7 kilos. If additional fees are charged for hand luggage, the traveler is entitled to claim it from the company by email or its website, or file a complaint with the Directorate General of Consumption of his autonomous community or the court.

While Vueling only allows the free transport of one bag measuring 40 x 20 x 30 centimeters, without weight limit, Ryanair, for its part, allows travelers to carry without additional fees a small bag measuring 40 x 20 x 25 centimeters. In the case of EasyJet, passengers are allowed to carry a small bag measuring 45 x 36 x 20 centimeters. In 2022, Ryanair was convicted three times by the Spanish courts for charging additional fees for hand luggage in the cabin.