New air travel rules have come into force in the EU: what has changed and why it is important for Ukrainians

In the context of everyday difficulties faced by Ukrainians forced to live abroad, many decisions made at the level of the European Union are not so much political as applied. Every regulation that changes the rules of mobility directly affects people’s ability to move, maintain family ties, and solve household and administrative matters. This is especially relevant for those who are separated from loved ones, live in several countries at the same time, or regularly commute between temporary shelter and Ukraine. The recent change that came into force in the EU is about an important relief for many in the everyday reality of movement. It is about the standardization of hand luggage rules.

New EU decision: the end of the “hidden baggage economy”

In 2023, the European Court of Justice issued a decision in which it recognized hand luggage as an “integral part of the passenger’s transportation” and, therefore, an element for which a separate fee cannot be charged. This became the basis for the development of a mandatory regulation that came into effect in the summer of 2025 in all countries of the European Union.

From now on, airlines are obliged to take on board at least one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg and one more item – a bag, briefcase or backpack – without additional fees. It is about things that the passenger takes with him into the cabin of the plane, and does not hand in the luggage. At the same time, the concept of “personal item” is clearly separated from the usual hand luggage: for example, a laptop in a cover, a small bag for documents, a medical bag, a children’s kit or a backpack for one person should be included in the list of items allowed without surcharges.

Previously, it depended on the fare, ticket category, internal company rules and other conditions that created chaos and confused passengers. Now — unification, transparency and mandatory compliance by all carriers operating within the EU legal framework.

What is changing for Ukrainians 

For Ukrainians, this innovation is especially valuable, because frequent short flights are a reality for refugees, students, volunteers and workers who have families in different parts of Europe. Full luggage is not always needed on such trips: a change of clothes, a laptop and documents are enough. But these things, according to the old rules, cost separately, often even more expensive than the ticket.

Now flights have become easier for them: at least part of the budget that had to be set aside for “surprise baggage” is no longer needed. For refugees, who often move from city to city in search of better shelter, study or work, stability and predictability in transportation rules is an important psychological aspect.

Cost per backpack: as it was before

During the last decade, the rules for transporting hand luggage in Europe have turned into a real quest. Airlines, especially low-cost ones, actively exploited the lack of uniform requirements: one allowed to take a bag up to 10 kg for free, another – only a microscopic “personal item”, still another charged an additional 25 euros for hand luggage that could be carried on board. Passengers often learned about these restrictions already after buying a ticket, sometimes even during boarding, when they were offered to pay extra or hand over a suitcase to the luggage compartment.

For Ukrainians, this meant regular losses of money — 20–40 euros from each flight — and for families with children, the sums could double or triple. Especially vulnerable were those who rarely fly and have no experience of interaction with air carriers, or those who do not speak foreign languages ​​and cannot promptly defend their rights at the check-in desk.

Market reaction: how carriers behave

After the entry into force of the new rules, most major airlines have updated their websites to include information about free hand luggage in all fares, including the lowest ones. In particular, Ryanair, WizzAir, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and others have made changes to internal documents and sales systems.

However, it is possible that some carriers will continue to manipulate the rules, presenting the dimensions or weight of hand luggage as excessive, even if they comply with the norm. Therefore, passengers should be careful: save screenshots of information from the airline’s website, check what exactly is included in the fare when buying a ticket, and do not hesitate to contact the consumer protection services in case of violations.

Although broad in scope, the new regulation is not comprehensive. It does not apply to flights departing from countries outside the EU — for example, from Ukraine, Turkey or Georgia. Therefore, if you buy a ticket from Kyiv, Lviv or Odesa, and not from Budapest or Krakow, the new rules may not apply. At the same time, return flights — that is, from the EU to Ukraine — should already be subject to the new standard if operated by a European carrier.

Separately, it should be noted: the innovations apply exclusively to hand luggage, and not to checked-in baggage. That is, free of charge is up to 7 kg in the cabin, not 23 kg in the luggage compartment. The norm does not cancel safety restrictions: the amount of liquid, prohibited items, control during landing remain valid.

How to protect yourself in case of violations

In case of conflict with airline representatives, you should keep calm, ask for a written justification, record the incident on your phone and contact the European Consumer Protection Center (ECC-Net). You can also file an official complaint with the aviation regulator of the EU country from which the flight took place.

If the ticket states that hand luggage is included in the fare, any attempt to make the passenger pay extra is a violation of the rules and the passenger has every right to demand a refund or compensation. In many cases, a written claim via e-mail is enough, but it is worth having confirmation – a photo of the luggage, weight, screenshots of the rules and a video of the conflict.

The new rules on free hand luggage within the EU are an example of a regulatory solution that immediately becomes useful and tangible in everyday life. For Ukrainians scattered across Europe, for families trying to maintain unity despite separation and borders, for people who are forced to move a lot — this decision was not just a technical update, but part of restoring a sense of normality, predictability and the right to comfort.