Anyone who has flown with a budget airline knows the routine: pack light, measure your bag twice, and hope you don’t get stopped at the gate.
Now, that long-running tension over cabin luggage is flaring up again, with warnings that airfares could jump sharply if new European rules go ahead.
Air passengers are being told ticket prices could rise by as much as 25 per cent under proposals that would force airlines to allow more free cabin baggage on board.
While politicians say the changes are about fairness and passenger rights, airlines insist the maths – and the aircraft cabins – simply don’t add up.
Why Airlines Are Sounding the Alarm Over Cabin Bags
At the centre of the row is a push by members of the European Parliament to guarantee passengers the right to carry both a personal item, such as a laptop bag, and a standard cabin-sized suitcase on board free of charge.
EasyJet has reacted furiously.
The airline’s chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, has branded the idea “lunatic,” arguing that planes just don’t have enough overhead locker space for everyone to bring a larger bag into the cabin.
According to Jarvis, easyJet aircraft can only realistically accommodate cabin bags for around two-thirds of passengers.
If everyone turned up with a suitcase, some bags would inevitably have to be taken off at the gate and put in the hold, leading to longer boarding times, delays, and frustrated travellers.
Fare Hikes and Chaos at the Gate, Says EasyJet
Jarvis has warned that if airlines lose the revenue they currently make from charging for cabin bags, they’ll have little choice but to push ticket prices up – potentially by as much as 25 per cent.
In blunt language, he accused politicians of meddling in areas they don’t properly understand, saying the proposals would be bad for both airlines and passengers.
From his perspective, forcing everyone to pay higher fares to cover “free” baggage would hurt consumers rather than help them.
Those comments come at a tricky time for easyJet, which recently reported a £93 million loss for the three months ending December 31, up from £61 million the previous year, partly due to the costs of expanding operations in Italy.
What the EU Lawmakers Are Actually Proposing
Despite the backlash from airlines, members of the European Parliament say their reforms are designed to strengthen air passenger rights, not weaken the aviation industry.
MEPs have voted to keep the current three-hour delay threshold for compensation, with payouts remaining between €300 and €600.
They also want to clearly define passengers’ rights to bring a personal item and a piece of hand luggage on board without extra charges.
Another part of the package focuses on travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility, ensuring they receive compensation, rerouting, and assistance if poor airport support causes them to miss a flight.
These amendments now head to the European Council, where national governments will decide whether to approve or change them.
Lawmakers Say Passengers Come First
Andrey Novakov, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the reforms, insists the goal is balance.
He says Parliament wants clearer and more predictable rules for airlines, but not at the expense of travellers.
According to Novakov, reducing delays and improving passenger rights has wider economic benefits across Europe.
In his view, voters expect lawmakers to deliver stronger protections, not roll them back under industry pressure.
Airlines Push Back Hard Against the Reforms
Industry group Airlines For Europe has also criticised the proposals.
Its chief executive, Ourania Georgoutsakou, argues that sticking with existing compensation rules makes little sense when delays have risen by more than 100 per cent over the past 15 years due to factors airlines can’t control.
She also warned that forcing passengers to pay indirectly for extra cabin bags they don’t want, or preventing airlines from denying boarding to disruptive travellers, could make flying less pleasant rather than more.
From the industry’s side, the reforms risk increasing costs and congestion without actually getting passengers to their destinations any faster.
EasyJet’s Cabin Bag Pricing Under Regulatory Fire
While easyJet is fighting proposed EU rules, it’s also dealing with trouble closer to home.
This month, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority banned one of the airline’s adverts for misleading customers about cabin bag prices.
The ad claimed that large cabin bags were available “from £5.99,” but regulators said easyJet failed to prove that this price was available across a significant proportion of flights and dates.
Although easyJet argued that £5.99 was the lowest starting price and that final costs were clearly shown during booking, it couldn’t provide detailed data to back up the claim.
As a result, the ASA ruled the advert misleading and ordered it not to appear again in the same form.
Consumer Groups Say Cheap Prices Are Often Illusory
Consumer watchdog Which? welcomed the ruling, saying its own research suggested easyJet’s cheapest cabin bag prices were rarely available in practice.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, accused airlines of luring customers with low headline fares, only to pile on expensive add-ons later.
He said the cabin bag prices Which? found were often around five times higher than the advertised “from £5.99.”
His advice to travellers was simple: sometimes choosing an airline that includes cabin baggage in the ticket price can work out cheaper overall.
EasyJet Responds and Makes Changes
In response, easyJet said it aims to be transparent about pricing and stressed that the “Fees and Charges” page was meant to provide general information, not serve as a marketing promotion.
The airline said it always has some large cabin bags available at the lowest price point and has since updated the page to make the information clearer following the ASA’s feedback.
What’s Likely to Happen Next?
The future now hinges on negotiations at the European Council.
If governments approve the proposed baggage rules, airlines may be forced to rethink their pricing models, potentially leading to higher fares across the board.
For passengers, the promise of free cabin bags sounds appealing, but the trade-off could be more expensive tickets, busier cabins, and longer boarding times.
As the debate moves forward, travellers may soon find out whether “free” luggage really comes at a cost after all.
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