Quick answer: the EU reform finally approved in July 2026 does not create a new, larger free cabin suitcase. It guarantees that one personal item — a small backpack or handbag measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or fitting under the seat in front — can be carried in the cabin at no extra cost. A larger trolley for the overhead locker is not automatically free: airlines may still offer cheaper fares without it. Here is what the final legal text actually says.
What the European Union approved
The European Parliament approved the reform of EU air passenger-rights rules on 7 July 2026 by 646 votes to 12, with 3 abstentions. The Council of the EU then gave its final green light on 13 July 2026, completing the legislative approval.
The updated rules are not yet applicable. According to the Council, they will enter into force 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The exact application date therefore depends on that publication.
What the free “personal item” actually is
The final legal text (PE-CONS 39/1/26 REV 1) defines a personal item as one piece of unchecked baggage that meets safety and security requirements and either measures no more than 40 x 30 x 15 cm or fits under the seat in front of the passenger. The new Article 11a requires airlines to allow this personal item in the cabin at no extra cost.
Most major European airlines already include a free underseat bag. The change turns that allowance into an EU right once the new rules become applicable, preventing an airline from removing it purely as a commercial decision.
| Airline | Free underseat bag currently advertised | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | One small personal bag is included in all fares and must fit under the seat. |
| Vueling | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | One underseat cabin bag is included. |
| Iberia | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | The published limit matches the numerical EU definition. |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | One small cabin bag is included and must fit under the seat. |
These published allowances already provide a free underseat item. The legal definition uses two alternatives — the 40 x 30 x 15 cm limit or fitting under the seat — so an airline may offer a larger allowance provided the item still meets its underseat rule.
What the law does not standardise: the larger cabin trolley
The regulation distinguishes between a “personal item” and “hand baggage”, meaning the larger trolley normally stored in the overhead locker. Airlines must permit a piece of hand baggage in the cabin subject to cabin capacity, but the law does not make that trolley free in every fare.
Instead, airlines, intermediaries and metasearch engines must display by default, before the booking process starts, the fare that includes hand baggage. They may still offer a cheaper fare to passengers who voluntarily travel without it. The regulation also does not set one uniform size for the larger trolley, so each airline can keep its own limits.
When will passengers notice the change?
If your airline already lets you bring a small bag under the seat for free, you may see little practical difference. The main value is legal certainty: once the new rules apply, one qualifying personal item can no longer be removed from the fare or charged separately.
Frequently asked questions
Has the EU approved a larger free cabin suitcase?
No. The new right covers one small personal item, not an automatically free overhead-locker trolley.
Is 40 x 30 x 15 cm a minimum or a maximum?
It is a maximum in the first part of the definition. The alternative is an item that fits under the seat in front, subject to safety and security requirements.
When do the new rules apply?
They are not yet applicable. Parliament approved the reform on 7 July 2026 and the Council gave final clearance on 13 July 2026. The rules will enter into force 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Do Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia and easyJet already include a free personal item?
Yes. Their current published allowances include one free underseat item, although the dimensions vary by airline.
What happens to the price of the larger cabin trolley?
The fare including hand baggage must be displayed by default before the booking process, making comparisons easier. Airlines may still sell a cheaper fare without that trolley.
If you need the larger cabin trolley that the EU rules do not make free in every fare, see our comparison of the best cabin suitcases for 2026. Always check the latest allowance for your airline and fare before travelling.
