EU bag rules shift

Europe’s airline bag rules are shifting toward one floor: a free personal item of at least 40x30x15 centimeters on basic fares. (a4e.eu) Airlines for Europe, the main industry group for large European carriers, said on July 2, 2025 that member airlines had started applying that guaranteed size after European Union member states agreed it in June 2025. In June 2025, European Parliament transport lawmakers also backed a broader passenger-rights position that would write the same 40x30x15 centimeter personal item into law and add a small cabin bag up to 7 kilograms with no extra fee. (a4e.eu) (europarl.europa.eu) That 40x30x15 figure is a minimum guarantee, not a universal downgrade. Ryanair’s current policy still allows one free small personal bag of 40x30x20 centimeters, while easyJet still allows one free under-seat bag of 45x36x20 centimeters. (ryanair.com) (easyjet.com) The practical change is that airlines now have a common baseline they can point to, even if some carriers keep larger allowances. Airlines for Europe said the standard is meant to make baggage rules “simple and transparent,” but it does not stop airlines from charging for larger cabin bags, seat selection, or priority boarding. (a4e.eu) (easyjet.com) The debate has been running for months because bag rules vary sharply across Europe even on short-haul trips. A European Parliament written question published in 2026 noted that the International Air Transport Association recommends 56x45x25 centimeters for cabin baggage, but said actual airline limits still differ widely from one carrier to another. (europarl.europa.eu) For travelers, the safest reading is still airline by airline, flight by flight. TUI says flight-only passengers can bring one 10 kilogram cabin bag up to 55x40x20 centimeters plus one small personal item up to 40x30x20 centimeters, while Jet2 says passengers get a 10 kilogram hand-luggage allowance and one small under-seat bag, with cabin carriage still subject to space and operational limits. (tui.co.uk) (jet2.com) Security rules are a separate issue from airline bag size, and they can still catch passengers out at the checkpoint. The United Kingdom government says liquids in hand luggage generally must be in containers of 100 milliliters or less, and electronic devices may need to be removed for screening depending on the airport. (gov.uk) Jet2 tells passengers that if hand luggage is moved to the hold, they must remove valuables, travel documents, spare lithium batteries, and electronic items containing lithium batteries first. That means a bag that passes an airline’s size gauge can still create problems if it reaches security with restricted liquids or the wrong electronics packed the wrong way. (jet2.com) (gov.uk) The next step is political as much as practical. European Parliament lawmakers have staked out a more generous no-fee standard than the industry’s 40x30x15 centimeter floor, and until the European Union finishes that process, passengers still need to check the exact dimensions on the airline they booked. (europarl.europa.eu) (ryanair.com) (easyjet.com)