Overview

• EU transport ministers have put forward a proposal to allow airlines to charge for carry-on luggage beyond a small personal item, with size and weight thresholds still under negotiation in Council and Parliament.
• The proposal also sets fixed compensation up to €500 for long delays and requires airlines to cover meals, accommodation and rebooking support within strict time limits.
• European consumer group BEUC has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission, arguing that hand luggage must remain a free, essential transport entitlement under existing ECJ rulings.
• No implementation date has been established, leaving uncertainty over when changes to fare structures and passenger-rights rules could take effect.
• Travelers are preemptively adopting tactics like choosing left-side security queues, booking in incognito mode and optimizing carry-on packing to cut waiting times and avoid potential fees.