EU Pushing Rules for Free Carry-on Baggage on Flights

EU lawmakers are calling on the European Commission to fully implement a Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling according to which airlines should not charge for hand baggage that meets “reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions”.

In this direction, the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions unanimously approved a resolution calling for the harmonization of size and weight requirements of hand luggage across all airlines companies operating in the EU.

This aim is to protect passenger rights and do away with abusive practices by airlines which charge or fine passengers for carry-on luggage.

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According to MEP Jordi Cañas, the CJEU ruling considers hand luggage as an “indispensable element” of the passenger and, therefore, not subject to additional costs. “Low-cost companies are doing business with the price of tickets hiding until the end of the purchase the supplement for carrying cabin luggage,” he adds.

Despite the CJEU ruling, some airlines are still charging for carry-on luggage, imposing fines on passengers who refuse to pay additional costs at the boarding gate.

The resolution comes to ensure that airlines provide transparent information on flight prices and schedules. While harmonization across the EU will ensure uniform standards particularly concerning connecting flights on different carriers.

The resolution which was approved unanimously will be voted on in a European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg next October.