THEThe European Parliament has approved a series of measures to try to improve the flying experience for millions of citizens. At the heart of the proposal is the right to carry one hand baggage and one personal item into the cabin free of chargeclearer rules for compensation in the event of delays, and new protections for those traveling with children. A package that aims to restore transparency, fairness and dignity to passengersafter years of fragmented policies and often difficult to understand supplements.
Free hand luggage: a turning point for air travellers
The Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament voted in favor of new guidelines that aim to strengthen the rights of air passengers. MEPs expressed a clear position against the restrictive practices adopted by many companies, particularly low cost oneswhich in recent years have progressively reduced the space and free hand luggage.
What can we bring into the cabin
The proposal establishes that every passenger must have the right to board with a personal itemwhich can be a backpack, a bag, a laptop or similar and a small hand luggagewith overall dimensions not exceeding 100 cm and a maximum weight of 7 kg. This measure aims to put an end to the jungle of rules that forced travelers to check the transport conditions every time, often discovering additional costs at check-in for the simple right to keep their personal effects with them.
The hand luggage rules are finally changing (Getty)
Free hand luggage: an end to inequalities between companies?
One of the main objectives is to harmonize the rules between different carriers. Currently, in fact, each company applies its own criteria by size, weight and type of baggage allowed, generating confusion and penalizing less experienced passengers or those who travel more frequently. With the new guidelinesno company will be able to anymore impose surcharges for the transport of hand luggage that complies with the established measurements.
Compensation for delays: the 3 hour threshold confirmed
There is not only free hand luggage in the approved sizes: another crucial point concerns delays. The Council of the EU had proposed to raise the threshold for obtaining compensation from three to four, or even six hours. A change that would have significantly reduced the possibility of compensation for passengers. The European Parliament instead confirmed the current threshold: after three hours of delay, the passenger is entitled to financial compensationregardless of the duration or destination of the flight. The amount varies based on the distance travelled:
- Up to 1,500 km: approximately 300 euros
- Between 1,500 and 3,500 km: around 400 euros
- Over 3,500 km: up to 600 euros
Cancellations and denied boarding: rights intact
THE rights remain unchanged and fully guaranteed even if the flight is canceled or if the passenger is denied boarding, for example due to overbooking. In these cases, the airline is required to offer the traveler three main optionsto choose from freely:
- can request a full refund of the cost of the ticketeven if purchased on promotion. This applies to both domestic and international flights;
- you can opt for a new flight to the same destination, as soon as possible and without additional costs. The company must take care of the new booking and, if necessary, provide assistance (meals, accommodation, transport);
- the passenger may also be entitled to cash compensationdepending on the circumstances. This compensation is provided if the cancellation or denied boarding does not depend on exceptional causes, such as extreme weather conditions or health emergencies, and can vary from 250 to 600 euros, based on the distance of the flight.
In summary: the traveler is never obliged to accept only a voucher or a flight change. You have the right to choose the solution that best suits your needs, and to receive compensation if conditions allow it.
Traveling with children: free seat next to minors
Among the most appreciated innovations, there is finally the possibility of choosing a seat for free for minors up to 14 years of agein order to guarantee that they can travel alongside their parents or companions without additional costs. A measure that responds to a concrete need for those who simply want to be close to their children during the flightwithout having to spend a fortune on choosing seats.
Boarding pass: digital or paper, at the passenger’s choice
In the end, the freedom to choose the format of the boarding pass is confirmed. Each passenger will be able to decide whether to receive it in digital or printed version, without constraints imposed by the companies. A simplification that helps both those who prefer the convenience of the smartphone and those who are not familiar with apps or technology. These new guidelines must be examined by the Council of the EU and undergo interinstitutional negotiations, but the political signal is strong: the European Parliament sides with the citizensreaffirming the principle that flying does not have to be an obstacle course.
Rights guaranteed, but at what price?
So, the introduction of free hand baggage and uniform rules across airlines is definitely a win for passengers. A question, however, arises spontaneously: If companies can no longer monetize on supplements and ancillary services, won’t they try to compensate with increased ticket prices? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. In fact, it is likely that they will increase, especially on low-cost routes, where the business model is based on the separate sale of each service.
However, the advantage is not only intended to be economic, but also in terms of transparency and predictability. Today, many ultra-cheap tickets hide costs that only emerge at check-in or seat selection. With the new rules, the price you see will be closer to the real price and you will be able to compare offers more fairly.