New EU hand luggage rules explained – and the best cabin bags to buy
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Whether you’re planning a city break to Barcelona, a cultural escape to Dubrovnik or a long weekend in Mallorca, if you’re travelling with hand luggage, it pays to know your airline’s rules before you get to the airport.
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From easyJet to Ryanair and Wizz Air, budget airlines have become increasingly strict about cabin baggage, with the wrong-sized bag potentially resulting in a fee at the gate.
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New EU passenger-rights legislation, officially published in the EU’s Official Journal on 2 October 2026, will eventually give passengers the right to take a personal item and a cabin bag on board without paying an additional fee.
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The rules are expected to come into force from October 2027.
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Under the new rules, passengers will be entitled to a personal item that fits under the seat in front of them, with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm, plus one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and measuring a maximum of 100cm in combined dimensions.
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Airlines will also have to display fares including the hand-luggage allowance at the start of the booking process, making it easier to compare the true cost of different flights.
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However, these rules do not apply yet – and UK travellers might not benefit as much as others.
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As the UK is no longer part of the EU, passengers departing from Britain might only be entilted to a free cabin bag when returning home.
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For example, easyJet has confirmed that the changes will apply to flights returning from EU countries, rather than departures from the UK.
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For now, your airline’s existing baggage allowance still applies.
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Confusingly, every European airline has different rules, which are often subject to change.
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Ryanair, for example, currently limits its free ‘small personal bag’ to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, while easyJet allows a slightly larger under-seat bag.
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British Airways, on the other hand, offers both a personal bag and a cabin bag as part of its standard allowance, while Jet2, Lufthansa, Iberia and Air France also provide a larger cabin-bag allowance on applicable fares.
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“Having a clear policy for cabin bags makes the boarding process faster and more efficient for customers by reducing potential delays and inconvenience for passengers caused by needing to offload extra bags and stowing them in the hold, if there isn’t room for them onboard,” Antonio Shabbir from easyJet’s customer service team explains.
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“There are several factors that inform this, including space on board and weight limits to align with safety and industry standards.
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Ahead of your next European getaway, here’s your guide to the current hand luggage restrictions for some of the most popular airlines – plus the best bags to buy.
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EasyJet
- Free personal item: 45 x 36 x 20cm
- Standard cabin size: 56 x 45 x 25cm (with large cabin bag allowance)
EasyJet currently allows every passenger to bring one small cabin bag free of charge, provided it fits under the seat in front.
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A larger cabin bag can be added for an additional fee.
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bag → add → fee
The airline has said that the forthcoming EU changes will apply to passengers flying back to the UK from EU countries, but not to passengers departing from the UK.
Ryanair
- Free personal item: 40 x 30 x 20cm
- Standard cabin size: 55 x 40 x 20cm (with Priority)
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Ryanair’s current free allowance is limited to a small personal bag, while Priority passengers can also bring a larger cabin bag.
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passengers → limit → bag
The airline has said it will allow additional hand luggage under the new EU rules when they come into effect, although the new legislation itself does not begin until 2027.
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Wizz Air currently permits one free under-seat bag, with a larger trolley bag available to passengers who purchase Priority.
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who → permit → Priority
The airline has yet to confirm exactly how it will implement the new EU hand-luggage requirements when they come into force.
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Jet2
- Free personal item: 40 x 30 x 20cm
- Standard cabin size: 56 x 45 x 25cm (included)
Jet2 currently includes a larger cabin bag in its allowance, alongside a smaller personal item.
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TUI
- Free personal item: 40 x 30 x 20cm
- Standard cabin size: 55 x 40 x 20cm (included)
TUI currently allows passengers to take a small under-seat bag and a larger cabin bag, subject to the terms of their booking.
British Airways
- Free personal item: 40 x 30 x 15cm
- Standard cabin size: 56 x 45 x 25cm (included)
British Airways currently permits both a personal bag and a larger cabin bag.
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As a UK airline, travellers should check the rules applying to their particular route when the new EU legislation comes into force.
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legislation → check → force
The new rights are not a blanket change to baggage allowances for flights departing the UK.
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Air France
- Free personal item: 40 x 30 x 15cm
- Standard cabin size: 55 x 35 x 25cm
Air France currently permits a personal item alongside cabin baggage on applicable fares.
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The new legislation is designed to give passengers greater clarity over what is included in their ticket.
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From October 2027, passengers covered by the new EU rules will be entitled to one personal item measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15cm – plus one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg.
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The baggage allowance will be included in advertised fares from the beginning of the booking process, rather than being presented as an additional cost later.
But even after the new legislation comes into force, UK passengers flying out of Britain should not assume they will benefit, as the new rules are more relevant to flights departing from EU airports.
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In the meantime, these are the best cabin bags to buy for airlines including Ryanair, British Airways, EasyJet and more.
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Dimensions: 28 x 45 x 20 cm
The Antler overnight bag comes in a range of colours, including black, green, navy and taupe.
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Inside, the elasticated pockets help keep all your essentials (like your passport, boarding pass and headphones) organised, while the fold-down sides ensure it meets cabin baggage personal bag restrictions.
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Designed with a detachable shoulder strap and an innovative suitcase sleeve that slides easily over your luggage handle, travelling through the airport will be effortless.
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travelling → design → airport
Ecohub cabin bag
Complies with: EasyJet, RyanAir, Wizzair, British Airways, Jet2, TUI, Air France
Dimensions: 40 x 30 x 20cm
Complying with Ryanair’s smallest ‘underseat’ bag allowance, this Ecohub bag can be used on flights with all its competitors, too.
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The affordable bag meets every airline's requirements, with its compact, zipped design ensuring you don’t get caught out at the gate for overpacking.
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Complete with both shoulder straps and a cross-body for easy carrying, the brand claim its waterproof, too.
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…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
