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Free carry-on bags in Europe: where do the rules stand?

Published on October 30, 2026 Reviewed October 30, 2026 About 5 min

The Bagage de Court editorial team.

A stylized parliament chamber overlooking a line of travelers with their carry-on bags.
The European debate. The European Parliament voted in favor of free access to a small carry-on bag, but the road to implementation is still long: negotiations with the member states and the reaction of the airlines determine the timeline. In the meantime, the conditions of each ticket are what count.

With “Free carry-on bags in Europe: where do the rules stand?”, I spare you the detours: read, then take action. Follow how the European rules on carry-on baggage are changing and understand what those changes mean for the sporty traveler. So you do not get lost, here is what we will cover: what you can see on the ground, where the phenomenon comes from, and your sorting criteria. This page is for pickleball players in France, beginners or club members, who want to choose and organize their bag and travel with their gear.

Keep your travel documents (boarding pass, baggage tag, irregularity report, supporting papers). Legal action against the airline is possible for two years. According to customs, bulky sports equipment, such as golf clubs, travels in the hold. Large bottles over 100 ml, tools and flammable liquids subject to strict conditions travel there too. IATA has defined an “optimal” carry-on size of 55 × 35 × 20 cm, identified by the “IATA Cabin OK” logo.

What you can see on the ground

A trend to watch: airlines will be able to keep offering reduced fares to passengers who travel without a carry-on bag; the fare model is not yet defined.

A measured benchmark: in February 2026, the free personal item measured 45×36×20 cm at easyJet, 40×30×20 cm at Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and Volotea, 40×30×25 cm at Eurowings and 40×30×15 cm at Air France.

A reference to keep handy: for lithium batteries up to 100 Wh, a reasonable quantity is allowed as long as each battery is individually protected against short circuits. From 100 to 160 Wh, a maximum of two loose spare batteries are allowed, with the airline's prior approval. Above 160 Wh, carriage is prohibited.

Here is the figure to know: the Montreal Convention applies to European Union carriers on all their routes. It caps liability at 1,519 special drawing rights (SDRs) per passenger. This cap is not an automatic payout: the passenger must prove the actual loss.

Where the phenomenon comes from

To stay on the right side of the rules: on January 21, 2026, the European Parliament adopted its position, with 632 votes in favor, 15 against and 9 abstentions, in support of two free carry-on bags.

Keep this logic in mind: bags are X-rayed or inspected before entering the security zone.

Keep this logic in mind: a vote by Parliament does not create law on its own. The text still had to be approved by the Council of the European Union, which represents the 27 member states. Keep this principle as your common thread for what follows.

Your sorting criteria

At the heart of the matter: at check-in, you can declare a special interest value to raise the compensation cap. The airline may charge a supplement for this. It is an option to consider for a bag containing valuable gear.

Do not overlook

Watch out for the missteps listed below.

  • The 2015 IATA recommendation is only a guideline — IATA paused the rollout in June 2015, and major airlines keep their own allowances.
  • For a flight with a personal item only, check the airline's exact dimensions before departure: they range from 40×30×15 cm to 45×36×20 cm depending on the carrier.
  • Passengers departing from the United Kingdom will not benefit from the new European rules, except on return flights from the EU, according to easyJet UK as quoted by Euronews.
  • Failing to respect the list of items prohibited in the cabin exposes you to confiscation of the item and to penalties. The official fact sheet mentions an administrative fine of up to €10,000.

What did the European Parliament vote for?

To stay on the right side of the rules: the agreement provides for a personal item of 40×30×15 cm and a carry-on bag of 100 cm maximum in combined dimensions and 7 kg maximum; the traveler can give up the larger bag in exchange for a reduced fare.

In a few lines

Here is a short summary of what really matters.

  • A vote by Parliament does not create law on its own.
  • The 2015 IATA recommendation is only a guideline.

At the end of this read

Calmly reread the part that concerns you, then take action.

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References

Baggage dimensions and conditions vary by airline and change over time: always check your carrier's rules before departure.

European law on free carry-on bags is under discussion and does not apply yet: the information on this site is dated.