Europe Just Wrote the Free Personal Item Into Law, With a Long Wait

A new European Union regulation, number 2026/2202, entered into force on October 22. It is aimed at the cabin baggage fees that many budget airlines charge, but the part passengers care about does not apply for another year. The baggage provisions take effect on October 23, 2027, so current airline rules and fees continue until then.

Once the rules apply, airlines must let passengers bring a personal item into the cabin at no extra charge. The item must be unchecked, safe to carry, and either measure no more than 40 by 30 by 15 centimeters or fit under the seat in front. That is roughly the size many low-cost carriers already treat as their free allowance.

The regulation stops short of setting a uniform allowance for larger cabin bags. It does not fix a weight or size such as 7 kilograms; instead, airlines must set reasonable policies that reflect aircraft capacity and safety. Travelers should still expect to check each airline’s own limits for anything bigger than the personal item.

The change that may be most visible is in pricing. Airlines and intermediaries must display fares that include one hand bag by default, though carriers can still offer cheaper fares to those who do not want a larger bag. No fee amounts have been published, so how much cabin bag charges actually change will become clearer as the 2027 date nears.

Sources: Rus Tourism News, Nomad Lawyer