40 × 30 × 20 cm: that’s the universal dimension that will save you from paying baggage fees on any European airline in 2026. But between Ryanair, EasyJet, Air France, Transavia, Vueling, Wizz Air and Volotea, the rules differ considerably — and gate penalties can reach up to €140. This complete guide compiles the latest rules for each airline as of February 2026, in light of the historic European Parliament vote on passenger rights.
The Ongoing Cabin Baggage Revolution in Europe
Historic European Parliament vote — January 2026
On 21 January 2026, the European Parliament adopted a major revision of Regulation CE 261/2004 with an overwhelming vote of 632 for and only 15 against. According to the European Parliament, this text mandates the right to bring into the cabin free of charge one personal item (minimum 40 × 30 × 15 cm) and one cabin bag whose sum of dimensions does not exceed 100 cm, with a maximum weight of 7 kg.
What airlines say
- EasyJet: CEO Kenton Jarvis called the text « terrible for consumers »
- Ryanair: has actively opposed the reform for years
- 5 airlines (including Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling) face complaints for « illegal practices »
- While waiting for the law: current rules remain fully in force
Complete Comparison Table — February 2026
Here is a summary of cabin baggage rules for all major airlines operating in Europe, based on official data compiled by ulysse.com and avenuedusac.com in February 2026:
| Airline | Free bag (under seat) | Weight | Large bag (overhead) | Option required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | No limit | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg | Priority €6–20 |
| EasyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm | 15 kg | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | Standard Plus |
| Air France | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | 12 kg total | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | Included (except Basic) |
| Transavia | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 10 kg combined | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | €14–65 |
| Vueling | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | No limit | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg | €24–59 (Basic) |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 10 kg | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | WIZZ Priority |
| Volotea | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 10 kg combined | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | Priority €9–30 |
| Lufthansa | — | 8 kg | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | Included |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | — | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | Included (2 bags!) |
Ryanair: Rules Updated in 2025
The strictest low-cost, but one that has loosened up
Ryanair made a notable concession in September 2025: the free bag dimensions changed from 40 × 25 × 20 cm to 40 × 30 × 20 cm, adding 5 cm in width. According to help.ryanair.com, this bag must fit under the seat in front of you.
To access the overhead lockers, you must purchase the Priority & 2 Cabin Bags option, priced between €6 and €20 at booking. This option allows you to bring the small bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm) and an overhead bag of 55 × 40 × 20 cm weighing up to 10 kg.
Key points
- Free bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm (under seat, all fares)
- Paid overhead: 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg — Priority option
- Ryanair removed the bonus cap for agents spotting non-compliant bags — checks are now systematic
- Gate penalty: €50 to €80
EasyJet: The Most Generous Low-Cost in 2026
The comparison’s surprise: 15 kg included free
EasyJet stands out among low-cost airlines with the most generous free bag: 45 × 36 × 20 cm and 15 kg. This is significantly larger than Ryanair, Vueling or Wizz Air. In 2026, your carry-on must not exceed these dimensions including handles and wheels to fit under the seat in front — and no surcharge is required.
For the large overhead bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm), you need a Standard Plus or Flexi fare, an Up Front/Extra Legroom seat, or an easyJet Plus subscription, according to voyagerleger.com.
Key points
- Under-seat bag: 45 × 36 × 20 cm, 15 kg — the most generous
- Overhead with Standard Plus: 56 × 45 × 25 cm (~€93 return)
- Frequent checks — even a centimetre over can incur a surcharge
- Fixed 15 kg cap regardless of fare — unique advantage among low-costs for heavier travellers
Air France: The National Reference
The only airline that includes the overhead bag on all fares
Air France holds a privileged position in this comparison. It is the only major airline to include the overhead bag on all fares, including Economy — except for the Basic fare. The allowed cabin bag is 55 × 35 × 25 cm, for a total weight (personal item + cabin bag) of 12 kg in Economy, according to airfrance.fr.
Classes and allowances
- Economy: 1 personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm) + 1 cabin bag (55 × 35 × 25 cm), 12 kg total
- Premium / Business / La Première: 2 bags + personal item (18 kg in Business)
- Basic fare: overhead bag available as a paid option
- Full flight: cabin bag checked into hold for free
Transavia: The Combined Weight Rule — A Common Trap
10 kg combined: the subtlety everyone misses
Transavia applies a rule unique among major European airlines: the total allowance is 10 kg, but this cap applies to the combined weight of the under-seat bag and the overhead bag. In other words, you cannot have 10 kg in each bag — it’s 10 kg for both together, according to tanned-voyage.com.
Vueling: Europe’s Harshest Gate Penalties
Up to €140 at the boarding gate
Vueling, part of the IAG group (British Airways/Iberia), mirrors Ryanair’s policy for the free bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm), but with some of Europe’s harshest penalties. An undeclared or oversized overhead bag can cost up to €140 at the gate, according to ulysse.com.
Key points
- Optima/Family/TimeFlex fares: overhead included
- Book online: save up to €30 vs airport rates
- Gate penalty: up to €140 — the highest in this comparison
Wizz Air: Wheel Tolerance — A Unique Feature
+5 cm tolerance for wheels — found nowhere else
Wizz Air, the largest low-cost operator in Central and Eastern Europe, has an exclusive feature: handles and wheels are not included in measured dimensions, provided they add no more than 5 cm to the bag’s size, according to wizzair.com. This is unique among European low-costs.
Volotea: Regional Low-Cost with Strict Controls
€65 penalty per piece for non-compliance
Volotea allows all passengers to bring a free small bag of 40 × 30 × 20 cm under their seat. For a 10 kg overhead bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm), the Priority Boarding option or Megavolotea subscription is required. Otherwise, a non-compliant bag goes into the hold with a penalty of €65 per piece per journey, according to kayak.fr.
Lufthansa & Turkish Airlines: The Comfort of Traditional Carriers
Two bags included for free — what EU law wants to impose on low-costs
Lufthansa accepts a cabin bag of 55 × 40 × 23 cm, limited to 8 kg, included on all Economy tickets. Turkish Airlines goes even further by offering two free bags: a 40 × 30 × 15 cm personal item and a 55 × 40 × 23 cm main bag — exactly what the European Parliament is trying to impose on low-costs, according to avenuedusac.com.
Long-haul carriers
- Qatar Airways: 50 × 37 × 20 cm, 7 kg — included
- Emirates: 55 × 38 × 20 cm, 7 kg — included
- Cathay Pacific: 56 × 36 × 23 cm, 7 kg — included
Liquids, Batteries and Electronics: The 2026 Rules
Universal rules applicable to all airlines
Liquids: The 100 ml rule remains universal. Containers must hold a maximum of 100 ml and be placed in a transparent resealable 1 litre plastic bag (approximately 20 × 20 cm). One bag per passenger, presented separately at security, according to latrousserie.fr.
Lithium-ion batteries: Batteries built into electronic devices have no limitation for personal use. However, spare batteries (power banks) must not exceed 100 Wh each. Between 100 and 160 Wh, prior airline authorisation is mandatory (maximum 2 units per passenger).
Key warnings
- Heating devices (hair straighteners, e-cigarettes): cabin only, never in the hold
- Batteries over 160 Wh: prohibited both in cabin and hold
40 × 30 × 20 cm: The Smart Traveller’s Universal Bag
One dimension, all airlines
The common denominator across all European airlines is 40 × 30 × 20 cm. A bag meeting these dimensions will pass on Ryanair, Wizz Air, Transavia, Vueling, Volotea, EasyJet, Air France, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines with no surcharge, according to ulysse.com.
The 3 golden rules to avoid fees
- Always measure your bag when packed, including handles and wheels (except Wizz Air)
- Book baggage options online, never at the airport (save up to €30)
- Compare total trip cost (ticket + baggage), not just the displayed price
Frequently Asked Questions about Cabin Baggage
Is the European law on two free bags already in force in 2026?
No. In January 2026, the European Parliament voted in favour of two free cabin bags on European flights, but implementation is blocked by the EU Council. No airline has changed its conditions following this vote. According to ulysse.com, the optimistic scenario pointed to a trilogue agreement by end of 2026, for application in 2027 or 2028 at the earliest. Current rules remain fully in force.
Which bag is accepted on ALL European airlines without a surcharge?
The universal dimension is 40 × 30 × 20 cm. A bag meeting these measurements is accepted on Ryanair, EasyJet, Air France, Transavia, Vueling, Wizz Air, Volotea, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines without any additional fees. EasyJet is even more generous at 45 × 36 × 20 cm with 15 kg, but targeting Ryanair’s (strictest) gauge covers all cases, according to ulysse.com.
Are wheels and handles counted in cabin baggage dimensions?
Yes, at the vast majority of airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet, Air France, Vueling, etc.), handles and wheels are included in measured dimensions. You should therefore measure your bag when packed, wheels and handles included. Notable exception: Wizz Air, which tolerates up to +5 cm for wheels — a feature unique among European low-costs, according to ulysse.com.
Which low-cost airline is the most generous with free cabin baggage?
EasyJet offers the most generous free cabin bag among low-costs: 45 × 36 × 20 cm with an allowance of 15 kg. This is significantly larger than Ryanair (40 × 30 × 20 cm), Wizz Air and Vueling (40 × 30 × 20 cm, 10 kg). EasyJet also applies this 15 kg cap regardless of the fare chosen, making it a unique advantage for heavier-packing travellers, according to ulysse.com.
What happens if the plane is full and there’s no room for my cabin bag?
It depends on the airline. At Transavia, only the first 70 cabin bags board; the rest go into the hold at no extra charge. The same applies at Volotea for the first 75. At Air France, on a full flight, the bag can be checked for free. Low-cost airlines may however charge for this transfer if your bag did not comply with stated dimensions, according to ulysse.com.
Is Transavia’s 10 kg combined weight rule really that strict?
Yes, very strict. Transavia’s 10 kg limit applies to the combined weight of both your under-seat bag and overhead bag together. If your under-seat bag weighs 5 kg, your overhead bag can only weigh 5 kg — not 10 kg additional. Metal sizing frames and weight checks are present at Transavia boarding queues with no tolerance. This rule surprises many travellers accustomed to other airlines, according to tanned-voyage.com.
How can I save the most on cabin baggage fees in 2026?
The most effective strategies: 1) Choose a soft bag of 40 × 30 × 20 cm (universal, passes everywhere) — a hard-shell case weighs 2 to 3 kg empty and its wheels eat into usable space; 2) Book baggage options online, never at the airport (save up to €30 with Vueling); 3) Compare total trip cost (ticket + baggage), not just the displayed price; 4) Always measure your bag when packed before leaving, according to saccabines.fr.
Are low-cost airline baggage fees actually illegal?
The question is legally unresolved. In May 2025, UFC-Que Choisir and twelve other European associations took action against several airlines for « illegal commercial practices », citing a 2014 Court of Justice of the EU ruling requiring inclusion of a bag of « reasonable size and weight » in the ticket price. Spain had fined Ryanair, EasyJet, Norwegian, Vueling and Volotea €179 million, but the European Commission judged these fines contrary to EU law and Spanish courts suspended them, according to ulysse.com. In practice, fees remain applicable.
Sources
- ulysse.com — Free cabin bag 2026: airline-by-airline comparison — Complete comparison updated February 2026
- europarl.europa.eu — Parliament supports passenger rights — Official press release, January 2026
- help.ryanair.com — Ryanair’s Bag Policy — Official Ryanair rules 2026
- airfrance.fr — Cabin and hold baggage — Official Air France rules
- tanned-voyage.com — Transavia cabin baggage — Combined weight rule
- kayak.fr — Volotea cabin baggage — Dimensions, weight and rates
- wizzair.com — Cabin baggage allowance — Official Wizz Air rules
- saccabines.fr — Cabin baggage size guide 2026 — Bag types and advice
Data verified in February 2026.
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