After 13 years of negotiations, an agreement on bag fees has finally materialized.
The European Union has reached an agreement this month to protect air passenger rights after 13 years of negotiations. Passengers flying within the E.U., or departing from or arriving in the bloc, will be allowed to carry hand luggage without additional charge. Member countries have also retained policies regarding financial compensation for delays and cancellations, despite pushback from airlines. This is a provisional agreement that will go into effect next year.
Europe has a robust framework of air passenger rights. Since 2004, fliers have received financial compensation for delayed or canceled flights. Airlines have lobbied against many provisions for years, and members of the European Parliament have spent the past decade negotiating these protections.
Passengers will still receive compensation if their flight arrives at the destination more than three hours late or is canceled less than 14 days before departure. Airlines wanted to increase the threshold to five hours to account for delays beyond their control, but the three-hour limit remains intact.
The amount of compensation depends on the distance: €250 ($286) for flights within 1,500 kilometers (932 miles); €400 ($458) for distances between 1,500 km and 3,000 km (1,864 miles); and €600 ($688) for longer distances. “Air carriers will have the possibility to reduce compensation by 50% for their longest journeys if passengers are offered re-routing to their final destination following travel disruption, or if the delay at arrival does not last more than four hours,” the E.U. says.
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Additionally, airlines must take care of passengers by offering refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours, and an overnight stay for up to three days if needed.
One of the biggest changes is that airlines must include the price of hand baggage—a personal item and a small bag—into the ticket. They are not allowed to charge extra for hand luggage. Airlines and search platforms will need to display prices inclusive of hand baggage as the default, while also being allowed to offer cheaper flights for passengers who don’t need luggage.
Low-cost airlines have come under fire many times for charging extra for hand baggage, a tactic that generates billions globally. So, guess which airline is the loudest critic of the move? Irish budget airline Ryanair released a scathing reply, calling it “E.U. regulatory nonsense” and “even more stupid rules.”
Ryanair’s outspoken CEO, Michael O’Leary, said in the statement, “These latest EU261 regs are more bureaucratic bunkum from the E.U. Parliament and Council. Instead of encouraging E.U. airlines to advertise our lowest fares (which exclude 2nd cabin bags), which is what over 50% of our customers choose, these new rubbish regulations require airlines to falsely advertise higher air fares, making E.U. airlines even less competitive.”
The airline argued that the move will raise prices for consumers and force airlines to advertise higher fares even when cheaper fares without baggage exist. O’Leary also called for Parliament to stop making “rubbish regulations” and to focus on air traffic control reforms and abolishing the Emissions Trading System (ETS) tax aimed at reducing emissions.
Airlines are also not allowed to charge extra for printing boarding passes or seating families together. Parliament is requesting that airlines clearly communicate passenger rights. The rights of passengers with disabilities are also getting attention: They will now be able to fly with mobility equipment or assistance dogs without extra insurance and will receive more compensation rights if airports do not provide sufficient assistance.
Related: What *Exactly* Are Your Rights at U.S. Airports Right Now?