Major budget airline to raise carry-on bag limit by 20 percent

While packing all one needs on a trip in a carry-on has long been a common way to avoid rising checked baggage fees, airlines based in different countries generally have varying standards around the size of the bag one can bring aboard.

The common carry-on standard for North American airlines is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 centimeters), while European carriers generally require them not to exceed 55 x 40 x 20 centimeters (21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches).

With that said, European Union lawmakers recently passed the first step of voting in passenger protection changes that would require airlines to allow passengers to bring in an additional small item measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 centimeters (15.7 x 11.8 x 6 inches) alongside the small luggage cabin bag free of charge.

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New Ryanair bag changes to take effect ‘in the coming weeks'

While the proposal still needs to be voted in by a majority of EU member states, some airlines are taking a proactive step toward changing their carry-on baggage policies.

Dublin-based low-cost carrier Ryanair (RYAOF) just announced plans to raise the allowed size of the personal item brought in alongside the carry-on suitcase from 40 x 20 x 25 centimeters to 40 x 30 x 20 centimeters. This would be a 20% increase from its existing allowance, as well as a slight bump from what would be required by the EU.

In a statement on the changes, Ryanair said it will implement the new free cabin baggage allowance “over the coming weeks” but declined to comment on whether its decision was influenced by the looming policy changes.

Airlines for Europe (A4E), an industry group representing EU airlines, said that many of its members are in the process of rolling out the changes.

Ryanair is the largest airline in the European Union by total passengers carried.

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‘As is already the case for many airlines'

“All A4E airlines will roll out the guaranteed dimensions and have them in place by the end of the 2025 summer season,” the group said in a press statement. “Carriers will continue to permit larger personal items at their discretion, as is already the case for many A4E airlines today.”

Low-cost airlines like Ryanair and easyJet (EJTTF) have previously criticized the change by citing incompatibility with its business model, which offers travelers low prices in exchange for fitting in as many passengers as possible and charging for extras such as baggage and seat selection.

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Over the last five years, multiple consumer groups have pushed for greater regulation around airline baggage price transparency for low-cost airlines in particular.

In May 2025, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) singled out easyJet, Norwegian Airlines, Ryanair, Volotea, Vueling, Transavia, and Wizz Air (WZZAF) as being especially “misleading” around added baggage costs when displaying the price of tickets.

“BEUC's alert to the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities has exposed how airlines take advantage of consumers by charging additional fees to passengers whose hand baggage do not match their guidelines, which has already been declared illegal,” the group's statement reads.