Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of a proposal allowing air passengers to to bring two pieces of hand luggage from now on (a personal item and a small piece of cabin baggage) on board at no extra charge. Several European media have confirmed this information.
This rule will particularly hamper ultra-low cost airlines such as Ryanair or Wizz Air. But also easyJet or Transavia. Last year, the latter tightened the rules on the carriage of cabin baggage. It no longer authorises the carriage of one piece of cabin baggage and one small piece of cabin baggage up to a total weight of 10 kg... for an additional charge.
According to the Euronews website, the new rules for two free pieces of baggage on board would allow passengers to take one "personal item" (maximum dimensions 40cm x 30cm x 15cm) and one "small piece of cabin baggage" limited to a maximum of 100cm (i.e. 55cm x 40cm x 20cm) and weighing 7kg. This would make it possible to impose standard rules for all. And above all, it would give the passenger the possibility of carrying baggage slightly larger than the current rules.
The winning consumer
The proposal, voted through by the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism, must now be approved by EU Member States. If implemented, it would mean that passengers could take along a personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag, and a small wheeled suitcase or a similar bag on board at no extra charge.
The airlines are, of course, opposed to this new rule. They argue - somewhat disingenuously - that the rule "undermines passenger choice and the free market". Above all, this legislation would render obsolete the "priority + two bags" fee option imposed by many low-cost airlines...
and threaten to increase ticket prices. They could also tighten the allowance, reducing it from 10kg to 7kg as stipulated by EU legislators. The European Consumers' Organisation, on the other hand, welcomes the proposal, claiming that it meets a fundamental consumer expectation. Passengers would regain a right that existed until the early 2010s...
