EU Updates Air Passenger Rights: Free Cabin Baggage and Flight Delay Compensation Remain

The European Union has agreed to a major update to air passenger protection rules. Find out how the rules for carrying hand luggage, compensation for flight delays and booking conditions will change

After more than a decade of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached an agreement on a major overhaul of air passenger rights. The new rules should secure the right of travelers to carry hand luggage free of charge, maintain compensation for flight delays and make airline fares more transparent.

The agreement still needs to complete all formal approval procedures, but the main provisions have already been agreed. The new rules are expected to enter into force in 2027 and will affect millions of passengers flying in Europe.

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Air passenger rights in the EU are awaiting their biggest update in recent years

The current passenger protection rules were adopted back in 2004. Since then, the aviation industry has changed dramatically: the number of flights has increased significantly, low-cost airlines have developed rapidly, and many services that were previously included in the ticket price have become paid separately.

That is why European legislators began reviewing the legislation back in 2013. One of the main goals of the reform was to adapt the rules to the modern air transport market, where budget airlines play an increasingly important role.

For many years, disputes have been raging between air carriers, state representatives and legislators over compensation for delays, baggage rules and additional guarantees for passengers. As a result, most of the key rights have been preserved.

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Free hand luggage will become mandatory

One of the most discussed innovations concerns hand luggage.

After the new rules come into force, airlines will have to include in the basic fare:

- a personal item up to 40×30×15 cm in size;

- additional hand luggage in the form of a small suitcase or travel bag;

- clear information about the conditions of baggage transportation even before purchasing a ticket.

In fact, this means that the practice of charging an additional fee for standard hand luggage, which was widely used by many low-cost airlines, will be significantly limited.

Read also, cheap airline tickets can hide additional transfer costs and hours of travel to the city. European airports that are far from the declared destinations in this article.

At the same time, carriers will be able to offer passengers cheaper fares if they voluntarily refuse to carry additional hand luggage and travel only with personal belongings.

11 habits that can ruin a long-haul flight in the material at the link.

Compensation for flight delays remains

Another fundamental decision concerns payments to passengers in the event of a flight delay.

For many years, airlines have tried to increase the minimum delay time after which a passenger is entitled to compensation. However, legislators decided to leave the current three-hour threshold.

According to the agreed rules, passengers will continue to have the right to compensation in the event of a significant delay or cancellation of a flight.

The approximate amounts of compensation will be:

- 250 euros for short flights;

- 400 euros for medium-haul routes;

- up to 600 euros for long-haul international flights.

Certain provisions also provide for the payment of €300 for certain flights of more than 3,500 kilometres in the event of long delays.

Thus, one of the most important guarantees for passengers in the EU remains unchanged.

More transparency when booking flights

The new rules should address another common problem – hidden fees.

Airlines, online aggregators and booking services will be required to display the full cost of a flight at the beginning of the purchase process. This will allow passengers to immediately see what is included in the fare and make it easier to compare offers from different carriers.

Particular attention will be paid to information about baggage and hand luggage, which often cause misunderstandings and additional costs when traveling.

The European Commission has banned airlines from charging additional fees to passengers after purchasing a ticket – even in the context of a fuel crisis, more details here.

New guarantees for families with children

The reform also provides additional protection measures for families.

In particular, children under 14 will be required to be seated next to an accompanying adult without having to pay for seat selection separately.

In addition, airlines will have clearer obligations to inform passengers about the procedure for receiving compensation and the deadlines for considering applications.

In the event of long delays, travelers will continue to retain the right to:

- food and drinks;

- means of communication;

- access to necessary information;

- hotel accommodation if waiting for a flight requires an overnight stay.

Will the new rules affect the cost of air tickets?

Representatives of the aviation industry have repeatedly warned that additional obligations may lead to an increase in the cost of tickets.

This is especially true for budget carriers, which receive a significant part of their income from the sale of additional services, in particular hand luggage.

At the same time, supporters of the reform emphasize that passengers will receive a more understandable tariff structure and fewer hidden fees. Therefore, even in the event of a slight increase in the base price, the total cost of the trip for many travelers may remain unchanged or even decrease.

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What will change for passengers after the new rules come into force?

The updated legislation will be one of the most important steps in the field of protecting air passenger rights in the last two decades.

If the reform is finally approved, travelers in the EU will receive a guaranteed right to free hand luggage, will retain the possibility of receiving compensation for flight delays and will have access to more transparent information about the cost of flights.

For passengers, this means more predictability when traveling and better protection against unexpected costs, which have become commonplace in the air transport industry in recent years.

Even if air passenger rights are getting stronger, no rules can completely protect against all risks when traveling. Flight delays, route changes, sudden illnesses or the need for emergency medical care can happen anywhere in the world. Medical insurance provides access to quality care in the event of an emergency and helps to avoid significant financial costs. An insurance policy is especially important for those who travel frequently, work abroad or plan a long stay in another country. Having insurance coverage allows you to focus on your trip, and not worry about possible unforeseen expenses.

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Reminder! Obtaining a Schengen visa in 2026 remains an important stage in preparing for a trip to Europe. We have already told you which Schengen countries have the highest rate of visa refusals, why applicants receive negative decisions and how to prepare documents to increase the chances of approval.

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