EU cabin baggage rules 2027: what’s actually new?
Updated on
A free small bag is not a new perk for most travelers flying Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz Air: these airlines already include one. From 23 October 2027, the practical changes are clearer prices when booking and explicit legal protections on covered flights — not free cabin trolleys.
The practical changes from 23 October 2027
A cabin-bag allowance shown by default
Airlines, booking platforms and flight comparison sites must initially display fares including a hand-baggage allowance. This makes the price with a cabin trolley easier to compare. Cheaper fares without hand baggage remain allowed if you choose to travel light.
No extra fee for an allowed bag forced into the hold
If your allowed cabin bag is moved to the hold because the cabin is full, for safety reasons or after an aircraft change, the airline cannot charge you extra for that move. This does not cover a bag outside your booked allowance.
No mandatory app; printing free after check-in
Airlines cannot require a specific app or user account to obtain and print your digital boarding pass. If you have already checked in, they cannot charge you for providing a printed boarding pass.
A free personal item becomes an explicit right
On flights covered by the rules, one personal item must be allowed at no extra charge: up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm, or fitting safely under the seat in front. The change is legal protection, not the invention of a free small bag.
Don’t airlines already allow a free small bag?
Yes. Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air already include a small personal bag in their fares. For travelers using that allowance, the new legal baseline may make little difference at boarding. It should not be presented as an extra free bag on top of the one already included.
The EU definition is a legal baseline, not a reason to replace a bag that already meets your airline’s allowance. Check the airline’s own policy and your fare before you fly.
What does NOT change
- Your cabin trolley is not automatically free. Airlines may keep charging for larger cabin bags stored in the overhead bins. The regulation does not harmonize their dimensions or weight limits across Europe.
- Gate fees are not going away. Sizers at the gate, strictness checks, and last-minute fees remain the airlines' business — which is exactly what BagStrict tracks.
- Ignore the "free 7 kg / 100 cm trolley" headlines. Some press coverage claims a free cabin bag up to 7 kg and 100 cm combined dimensions. The final published regulation does not set these thresholds — treat them as unconfirmed until airlines publish their 2027 policies.
What to do before you fly
- Check whether your fare includes a cabin trolley — the headline price may soon include it by default, but the old fare families aren't gone.
- Measure your bag against your airline's published limits, not the EU minimum. Compare real gate fees on our gate fees page.
- At the gate, your bag must meet the airline’s size limits and your fare’s baggage allowance. See how strict your airline really is: airline strictness ratings
Switzerland and the UK: the limits of the new rules
This is EU law. For flights departing from Switzerland or the UK, check what applies to your specific route and airline — some carriers apply EU rules on EU-bound legs only. We'll update this page as airlines publish their 2027 policies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest practical change when booking?
The price including a cabin-bag allowance must be displayed by default before booking starts. You can still choose a cheaper fare without hand baggage. This is a price-transparency requirement, not a promise of a free trolley.
Is hand luggage now free in Europe?
Many airlines already include a small personal bag. From 23 October 2027, this becomes an explicit right on covered flights: up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm, or fitting safely under the seat. Larger cabin bags can still be charged.
Do these rules apply to my flight from Geneva or Zurich?
Switzerland is not in the EU. The regulation applies to EU flights; for Swiss departures, check your airline's policy for your route.
Will Ryanair / easyJet / Wizz Air stop charging for cabin bags?
These airlines already include a small personal bag. The rules require a free personal item on covered flights and fares with hand baggage displayed by default. They do not make a cabin trolley free with every ticket.
What if the crew takes my cabin bag to the hold at the gate?
From 23 October 2027, if the bag was approved for the cabin and is moved to the hold for capacity or safety reasons, no extra charge may be imposed.
Sources (checked 15 October 2026): Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, published in the Official Journal of the EU on 2 October 2026, applying from 23 October 2027. Articles 11a and 11b explain the baggage and boarding-pass protections. See also the Council’s explanation of the booking-price requirement. Current free-small-bag policies: Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.