EU Airlines Must Include Carry-On Bags Under Passenger Rights Deal — Eu Airline Passenger Rights
EU negotiators reached agreement last night on eu airline passenger rights, moving to stop airlines from charging extra for small rolling carry-on suitcases. The deal would add both a small under-seat bag and a small rolling-carry-on suitcase to the basic airfare from next year, if Parliament and Council give final approval.
Carry-on bags in the fare
Under the reform of the EU Passenger Rights Directive, airlines will no longer be able to charge extra for small rolling carry-on suitcases. The same basic fare would also have to include a small bag that fits under the front seat. Airlines would still be able to offer a cheaper option during booking if customers opt out of the rolling suitcase allowance.
That changes what passengers see as the base price when they search for flights across EU routes. It also affects the way comparison sites display fares, because the hand-baggage-inclusive price would become the default offer next year.
Ryanair and the industry response
Budget airlines started charging for rolling carry-on suitcases about two years ago, and flag carriers have recently followed them. Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair CEO, was previously cited as having once suggested the airline could charge extra to use the toilets, a remark that made the baggage fight look less like a one-off fee dispute and more like a broader test of how far carriers can push add-on pricing.
A4E, the airline industry association, warned that the change could make fares look higher at the first step of booking. “By making the hand-baggage-inclusive fare the default offer, consumers may be presented with higher headline prices including the second bag, rather than the most affordable option,” A4E said.
Passengers choosing lighter fares
A4E also said: “Around half of passengers flying, particularly those travelling for short periods or on business trips, prefer to travel with only a small personal item in exchange for a lower fare.” That puts the new rule in direct tension with the fare structure many budget carriers built around backpacks and add-on charges.
The deal still needs a final vote of approval in the Parliament and Council before it becomes law. If that happens, airlines across the European Union will have to treat a small rolling suitcase as part of the basic ticket next year, while still keeping room for a cheaper no-roller option at checkout.
