The European Union Parliament transport committee has approved a change which would allow passengers to carry handbags weighing up to 7kg without additional charges on all EU airline flights
A major ruling means passengers could soon take two bags onto planes for no extra charge.
On Tuesday, the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee proposed changes to EU passenger rights rules by 38 votes to two and two abstentions.
While the proposals need to be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council, the decision this week is a major step forward, and a very positive one for air passenger rights.
Perhaps most importantly for those who fly on budget airlines, the Committee decided that: “Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee.”
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That means airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, which currently charge significant sums for a second bag, wouldn’t be able to demand big fees for an additional bag.
On Ryanair, an extra bag in addition to the one free personal item (40 x 20 x 25 cm) that fits under the seat costs up to £36. On easyJet, the dimensions of your carry-on bag—including the handle and wheels—must not exceed 56 x 25 x 45 cm. If your bag is larger than this, you will be charged £40 to have it stored in the hold.
The measure sought to spare passengers “unjustified extra costs”, said Matteo Ricci, a centre-left lawmaker and bill’s lead sponsor. Many low-cost air carriers include only one small on-board item in the ticket, charging extra for other hand baggage.
The changes will have a big impact on UK passengers, despite the country no longer being a member of the EU.
The rules would apply to EU-based airlines (such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet), including when they are carrying passengers from a non-EU country like the UK to an EU country and vice-versa.
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Another big change would mean airlines could no longer stop children under 12 from sitting next to their accompanying passenger free of charge.
The Committee also wants more protections for persons with reduced mobility by making sure an accompanying person can travel with them free of charge, and adding a compensation right in case of loss or damage to mobility equipment or injury to an assistance animal.
Airlines for Europe, an industry association, has pushed back against the hand luggage proposal, suggesting it would result in higher flight prices, upping costs for those who travel light.
“Forcing a mandatory trolley bag… obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,” A4E managing director Ourania Georgoutsakou said ahead of the vote.
The transport committee also voted to introduce a common form for compensation and reimbursement requests as well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can deny those.
