New EU cabin baggage rules 2027: what do they mean for your underseater?
- , by Miquell Hellings
- 13 min read
The EU has finally decided which bag you may take into the cabin free of charge from October 2027. We explain the new rules and the current sizes of twenty airlines.
From 23 October 2027, you will be allowed to take one small bag into the cabin free of charge on every flight departing from the European Union. The bag may measure up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or it must fit under the seat in front of you. This is set out in Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, published on 2 October 2026. A free trolley for the overhead compartment will not be introduced. Below, you can read exactly what has been decided, what has not, and which sizes airlines currently use.
In brief
- From 23 October 2027, every airline must allow one small bag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or a bag that fits under the seat, free of charge.
- An airline may continue to charge for large cabin baggage (the trolley). However, the fare including cabin baggage must be shown as standard when booking.
- No fixed European trolley size has been introduced.
- Currently, 13 of the 20 airlines in our table allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm or more for the free bag. With KLM, Air France, Lufthansa and other network airlines, the size is 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
- A bag measuring 40 x 30 x 15 cm fits all airlines in our table, both now and from 2027.
What has the EU decided about cabin baggage?
The European Union has revised the rules on passenger rights. Since 2004, these rules have been set out in Regulation 261/2004. The new version is Regulation (EU) 2026/2202. The European Parliament approved it on 7 July 2026, and the Council of the EU approved it on 13 July 2026. On 2 October 2026, the regulation was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The passenger rules will apply from 23 October 2027. Until then, the current conditions of each airline remain in force.
The regulation covers four things regarding baggage:
- One free small bag. You may take one personal item into the cabin free of charge. This is a bag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or a bag that fits under the seat in front of you. It must comply with safety rules. The regulation does not state a maximum weight.
- Large cabin baggage remains possible, but not free. An airline must allow one piece of cabin baggage as long as there is space in the cabin. It may charge a fee for it. The fare including cabin baggage must be shown as standard when booking. If you choose a cheaper fare without cabin baggage, that is allowed.
- Cabin full? Then it goes in the hold free of charge. If your cabin baggage cannot be taken into the cabin because of limited space, safety reasons or a different aircraft, it must be carried in the hold at no extra cost.
- Clear information in advance. When booking, the airline must show how many pieces of baggage you may take, their weight and dimensions, and the cost of every surcharge.
The rules apply to flights departing from an airport in the EU, including flights operated by an airline from outside Europe. For flights from outside the EU to the EU, they apply only when the airline is European.
What has not been decided?
Many reports refer to "free cabin baggage from 2027". This is only partly correct. Three things have not been introduced:
- No free trolley. The European Parliament also wanted one free piece of cabin baggage weighing up to 7 kg. This proposal was not included in the final agreement with the member states.
- No fixed European trolley size. Each airline decides the size of large cabin baggage itself. According to the regulation, the next review of the European aviation rules must examine whether equal minimum rules are feasible. There is no proposal for this yet.
- No single size for everyone. 40 x 30 x 15 cm is a minimum. An airline may allow a larger size, and many low-cost airlines do. Nothing in the regulation forces an airline to reduce a more generous size.
What could still change?
A Spanish case (C-547/26) is currently before the Court of Justice of the EU. It concerns whether an airline may charge for a trolley when one small bag is already included free of charge. In 2014, the Court ruled in the Vueling case (C-487/12) that cabin baggage may not be subject to a surcharge if it meets reasonable weight and size requirements. There is no ruling in the new case yet.
The wording "up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm or fits under the seat" could also lead to further discussion. The text does not state how strictly an airline may interpret the second condition.
What are the current cabin baggage rules per airline?
Until 23 October 2027, each airline decides how large the free bag may be. We checked the rules of twenty airlines on their own websites on 6 October 2026. All sizes are external dimensions, including wheels, handles and side pockets.
| Airline | Free underseat bag | Small bag weight | Trolley in the cabin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, available to book |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | 15 kg | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 15 kg, available to book |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 10 kg, with WIZZ Priority |
| Transavia | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg together with the trolley | 55 x 40 x 25 cm, available to book |
| Vueling | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, included in the more expensive fares |
| TUI fly | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, included with a package holiday, available to book with a flight only |
| Corendon | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 3 kg | 55 x 40 x 25 cm, 10 kg, available to book |
| SunExpress | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 4 kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg, from the SunValue fare |
| Volotea | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg together with the trolley | 55 x 40 x 25 cm, with Priority Boarding |
| Norwegian | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, from the LowFare+ fare |
| Aer Lingus | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 24 cm, 10 kg, from the Plus fare |
| Jet2 | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit stated | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 10 kg, always included |
| Eurowings | 40 x 30 x 25 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg, from the Smart fare |
| KLM | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 12 kg together with the trolley | 55 x 35 x 25 cm, not included with Basic |
| Air France | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 12 kg together with the trolley | 55 x 35 x 25 cm, not included with Basic |
| Lufthansa | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg, not included with Economy Basic |
| Brussels Airlines | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | No limit stated | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg, not included with Economy Basic |
| British Airways | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | No limit stated | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, always included |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 4 kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg, included in Economy |
| Pegasus | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 3 kg | Not included with the Light fare |
Rules change regularly and may vary by fare. Always check the conditions of your own booking before you travel. For each airline, you can read more in our articles about Ryanair, Transavia, KLM, TUI fly, Vueling, Wizz Air and Brussels Airlines.
What changed in 2025 and 2026?
- Ryanair increased the free bag size in September 2025 from 40 x 20 x 25 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
- KLM and Air France have a Basic fare that only allows the small 40 x 30 x 15 cm bag in the cabin.
- Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines have an Economy Basic fare on European flights with only a small bag.
- TUI fly has charged for the trolley since 2026 when you book a flight only. It is still included with a package holiday.
- Corendon charges for the trolley: for bookings in the Netherlands since May 2024, and in Belgium since May 2026.
Which underseater size fits everywhere?
A bag measuring 40 x 30 x 15 cm fits all twenty airlines in the table. It is also the size that every airline must allow free of charge from 23 October 2027. If you are flying with different airlines, this size will always work.
A bag measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm is the most popular underseater size. It fits Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air, Vueling, TUI fly, Corendon and most other low-cost airlines. With KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, it is five centimetres too deep. It is currently not guaranteed to be accepted free of charge. It is not yet clear whether it will be allowed from 2027 because it fits under the seat. Do not rely on this.
Would you like one bag for all airlines? Choose an expandable model. The expandable cabin baggage travel bag from ByMetz measures exactly 40 x 30 x 15 cm when closed. With the zip open, it becomes 40 x 30 x 20 cm for airlines that allow this size. You can read more about the difference between the small bag and the trolley in the difference between an underseat bag and cabin baggage.
Pay attention to the weight
Most airlines do not state a weight limit for the small bag. Corendon and Pegasus use a limit of 3 kg, while SunExpress and Turkish Airlines use 4 kg. A hard underseater with wheels is heavier than a fabric bag or backpack. If you are flying with one of these airlines, choose a lightweight bag or backpack without wheels.
Measure it with everything included
The dimensions are external measurements. Wheels, handles and a filled front pocket count. Many airlines check bags at boarding using a baggage sizer. An oversized bag can quickly cost 60 euros or more at the gate. With Ryanair, this is 70 to 75 euros, and the bag will then go into the hold. You can read how to measure a bag correctly in measuring a travel bag.
Do you need to buy a new bag in 2027?
Usually not. The new rules set a minimum. Airlines that currently allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm or more free of charge are already more generous than this minimum. What will change is that from 23 October 2027, no airline may charge for a small bag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
If you are buying a new underseater now, preferably choose 40 x 30 x 15 cm or an expandable model. This size will work with every airline, both before and after October 2027. You can find an overview of all sizes in personal item on a plane and in our guide to cabin baggage sizes per airline.
Frequently asked questions
Will cabin baggage be free in the EU from 2027?
Only the small bag. From 23 October 2027, you may take a personal item measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or a bag that fits under the seat, free of charge. An airline may still charge for a trolley in the overhead compartment.
When will the new EU cabin baggage rules come into effect?
On 23 October 2027. The regulation was published on 2 October 2026 and enters into force on 22 October 2026. The passenger rules will apply one year later.
How large may an underseater be from 2027?
Every airline must allow a bag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm free of charge, or a bag that fits under the seat. An airline may allow a larger size. Ryanair, Transavia and Wizz Air currently allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
Can Ryanair still charge for a trolley after 2027?
According to the new regulation, yes. Ryanair must then show the fare including cabin baggage as standard. A case concerning surcharges for cabin baggage (C-547/26) is still before the Court of Justice of the EU. The outcome could still change this.
Do the new rules also apply to flights outside Europe?
They do apply to flights departing from an airport in the EU, including flights operated by an airline from outside Europe. If you fly from outside the EU to the EU, they apply only when the airline is European.
The right underseater at ByMetz
In our collection of underseaters, you will find bags, backpacks and small suitcases that fit under the seat. For low-cost airlines, you can find all suitable sizes in cabin baggage 40x30x20, such as the 40x30x20 3-WAY cabin baggage travel bag and the waterproof backpack measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm. If you are flying with easyJet, the cabin baggage backpack measuring 45 x 36 x 20 cm will fit. For a trolley in the overhead compartment, see cabin baggage 55x40x20 or, for KLM and Air France, cabin baggage 55x35x25. ByMetz is our own brand, and we sell the other brands as official dealers. You can always contact us for the full warranty, with a 30-day cooling-off period.