What the EU's New Cabin Bag Law Means for Your Carry-On

On October 2, 2026, the EU published Regulation (EU) 2026/2202. From October 23, 2027, every airline flying out of an EU airport must let you bring a personal item of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm (about 16 x 12 x 6 inches) at no extra cost. An overhead-bin bag is not guaranteed free. In the US, no federal rule sets bag sizes: the common 22 x 14 x 9 inch limit is airline policy, and Southwest and Frontier allow 24 x 16 x 10. What changed in the US is fares and fees.

Key takeaways

From October 23, 2027, the EU guarantees one free personal item on EU departures. Fares must be shown with a cabin bag included by default, but airlines can still sell cheaper fares without one.
The free 7 kg cabin bag that the European Parliament voted for in January 2026 is not in the final law.
Among American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska, only United's Basic Economy bars a full-size carry-on on most routes. Frontier sells the carry-on as an add-on.
Ryanair enlarged its free bag to 40 x 30 x 20 cm in 2025. Its 10 kg limit applies only to the paid overhead bag.
A bag built exactly to 22 x 14 x 9 inches is slightly too big, on paper, for Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and Ryanair.

What it means for you

US basic economy flyers: the fare name matters more than the size rule. United Basic Economy charges for a roller bag; American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska don't.
Flying from EU airports: nothing changes before October 2027, and even then only the under-seat bag is guaranteed free.
Flying from London or other UK airports: the EU rule applies only when an EU airline flies you into the EU. On British Airways and other UK airlines, the airline's own policy decides.
Families with lap infants: some airlines add a baby bag, as the FAQ shows.
Owners of US roller bags: measure before a European trip; see the fit section.

What the EU regulation changes

Under the regulation's new Article 11a, airlines must carry a personal item "at no extra cost." A personal item meets safety rules and either fits within 40 x 30 x 15 cm or fits under the seat in front. Airlines must also allow one overhead-bin bag, but only "subject to the capacity of the aircraft cabin." Fares must be displayed with that bag included by default before booking starts. Airlines can still sell cheaper fares to passengers who choose to travel without one.

If safety, lack of space or an aircraft change means a bag within your allowance can't go in the cabin, the airline may put it in the hold "at no further cost." The law sets no size or weight for the overhead bag. Its recitals say only that airlines should state their limits at booking and keep a "reasonable" size policy.

The rules cover passengers departing from airports in EU countries on any airline. On flights into the EU from outside it, they apply only when the operating airline is an EU carrier and you didn't receive equivalent benefits under the other country's rules. UK airports are outside the EU, so a London departure on British Airways is not covered. Adopted after the Council's decision of July 13, 2026, the regulation entered into force on October 22, 2026 and applies from October 23, 2027. This is general information, not legal advice.

Why the free 7 kg bag fell out

On January 21, 2026, the European Parliament voted for a free personal item plus a free cabin bag of up to 100 cm in combined dimensions and 7 kg. The final compromise, agreed by a conciliation committee on June 15, 2026, dropped it. Parliament approved that text by 646 votes to 12 on July 7. Reports of a guaranteed free 7 kg bag describe Parliament's earlier position, not the law.

The dispute dates to the EU Court of Justice's 2014 Vueling judgment (C-487/12). The court said hand baggage is "in principle" a necessary part of carriage and can't carry a price supplement if it meets reasonable weight and size requirements. It never defined "reasonable," so paid cabin-bag options survived. The new law narrows that room but doesn't close it.

Carry-on limits by airline

Each row comes from the airline's own baggage page, checked October 14, 2026. Sizes include wheels and handles unless noted. Conversions marked "about" were calculated here.

Airline	Free personal item	Full-size carry-on	Weight cap	Cheapest fare includes carry-on?
American	18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm)	22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm)	None listed	Yes, Basic Economy
Delta	Must fit under seat	22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm), max 45 linear in	None listed	Yes; every passenger gets one
United	17 x 10 x 9 in (43 x 25 x 22 cm)	22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm)	None listed	No, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific
Southwest	Must fit under seat	24 x 16 x 10 in (about 61 x 41 x 25 cm)	None listed	Yes
JetBlue	17 x 13 x 8 in (43 x 33 x 20 cm)	22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm)	None, if you can lift it	Yes, Main Base
Alaska	Must fit under seat	22 x 14 x 9 in or 45 linear in	None listed	Yes, Saver
Frontier	18 x 14 x 8 in (about 46 x 36 x 20 cm)	24 x 16 x 10 in (about 61 x 41 x 25 cm)	35 lb each	No, paid add-on
Ryanair	40 x 30 x 20 cm	55 x 40 x 20 cm	10 kg, overhead bag only	No, paid "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags"
easyJet	45 x 36 x 20 cm	56 x 45 x 25 cm	15 kg each	No, paid or selected fares
Wizz Air	40 x 30 x 20 cm, excl. wheels	55 x 40 x 23 cm, excl. wheels	10 kg each	No, with WIZZ Priority
Lufthansa	40 x 30 x 15 cm	55 x 40 x 23 cm	8 kg per carry-on	No on short- and medium-haul Economy Basic
British Airways	40 x 30 x 15 cm	56 x 45 x 25 cm	None stated; lift it yourself	Yes, including fares without a checked bag
Air France	40 x 30 x 15 cm	55 x 35 x 25 cm	12 kg combined in Economy	No on Basic; hand bag can be bought
KLM	40 x 30 x 15 cm	55 x 35 x 25 cm	12 kg combined in Economy	No on Basic; hand bag can be bought

Spirit Airlines is not listed because it ceased operations on May 2, 2026. Southwest's free carry-on matters more than it used to, because checked bags cost extra on most bookings made since May 28, 2025. Ryanair's free bag grew in 2025 from 40 x 25 x 20 cm (20 liters) to 40 x 30 x 20 cm (24 liters). That is 33% more volume than the EU's 40 x 30 x 15 cm standard. Ryanair's page lists no weight for that bag.

US basic fares and fee rules

No US federal rule sets carry-on size. Under the rules in force, the first screen showing a fare only has to say that bag fees may apply and where to find them. The e-ticket confirmation must list the carry-on and first and second checked-bag fees. A 2024 DOT rule would have put those fees next to the first fare shown, but it never took effect. A court paused it in July 2024, and the full Fifth Circuit vacated it on February 3, 2026. DOT restored the 2011 text on July 2, 2026.

That puts the burden on the fare name. United Basic Economy allows only a personal item on most routes, and since May 28, 2025 that includes new tickets to Canada. A bag that doesn't fit under the seat costs $75 to check at the gate. For tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026, checked bags start at $45 prepaid, $50 at the counter and $75 at the gate. Premier members and primary holders of qualifying United cards get a free carry-on. American's Basic Economy includes one, but those passengers usually board last, in group 9, when bins are often full.

Illustrative example: a family of four, round trip

Two adults and two children with their own seats fly a domestic round trip, and each brings one roller bag. Nobody has airline status or a co-branded card. The United fees are its published starting fees for tickets bought from April 3, 2026. Frontier's price varies, so $55 is a hypothetical quote.

Total bag cost = travelers x flight directions x fee per bag

"Flight directions" is 2 for a round trip; "fee per bag" is the price of one bag for one direction.

United Basic Economy, bags checked and prepaid: 4 x 2 x $45 = at least $360.
United Basic Economy, roller bags brought to the gate: 4 x 2 x $75 = $600, which is $240 more than prepaying.
Frontier, carry-on bought at booking at a hypothetical $55: 4 x 2 x $55 = $440.
American Basic Economy, Delta, JetBlue Main Base or Alaska Saver: $0 for the carry-ons, if they fit the airline's limits.

Say a basic fare is $50 cheaper per person each way than one that includes a carry-on. That saves this family $400. Prepaid bags leave it $40 ahead, and gate fees leave it $200 behind. Add the bag cost to each fare before choosing.

Will a US roller bag fit in Europe?

A bag built exactly to 22 x 14 x 9 inches measures 55.9 x 35.6 x 22.9 cm. On paper, it is:

About 1 cm too long for Lufthansa (55 x 40 x 23 cm), though its depth fits.
Too long and too wide for Air France and KLM (55 x 35 x 25 cm), by 0.9 cm and 0.6 cm.
Too long and almost 3 cm too deep for Ryanair's paid overhead bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm).
Within British Airways' and easyJet's 56 x 45 x 25 cm limits.

A bag sized to Southwest's or Frontier's 24 x 16 x 10 inches (about 61 x 41 x 25 cm) is over every European limit in the table. Weight matters too: Lufthansa's 8 kg is about 17.6 lb, and Air France and KLM's 12 kg (about 26.5 lb) covers both bags.

Frequently asked questions

Do wheels and handles count toward the size limit?

At most airlines in the table, yes, including American, United, Alaska, JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, easyJet, British Airways, Air France and KLM. Wizz Air is the exception. Its sizes exclude handles and wheels, but the wheels may add no more than 5 cm.

Is there any US law on carry-on size?

No federal rule sets dimensions. Under 14 CFR 121.589, airlines may board carry-on bags only under an approved carry-on baggage program, and passengers whose bags exceed it may not board with them. Each airline's program sets its own limits.

Does the new EU rule cover US airlines flying from Europe?

Yes, on departures from EU airports, from October 23, 2027. On flights into the EU from outside it, such as New York to Paris, it applies only when the operating airline is an EU carrier and you didn't receive equivalent benefits under the other country's rules. The same applies to flights from the UK, so UK airlines aren't covered.

Do diaper bags and strollers count as my carry-on?

Usually not. United and American let you bring a diaper bag, breast pump, car seat and stroller on top of your allowance (American: one diaper bag per child). Ryanair gives lap infants no cabin bag but allows a 5 kg baby bag of up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm, plus two items of baby equipment free. easyJet allows a changing bag of up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm for a lap infant.

If the overhead bins are full, will I pay to check my bag?

It depends on the airline. Frontier, KLM and Air France say an allowed carry-on can be put in the hold at no extra cost on full flights. Delta gate-checks larger bags free on Delta Connection flights with 50 or fewer seats. United Basic Economy passengers can't gate-check bags free. From October 2027, EU law bars a charge on EU departures when lack of space or safety forces an allowed bag into the hold.

Before you pack: a checklist

Find the strictest flight on your itinerary, including separate-ticket connections, and pack to that airline's limits.
Measure the bag after packing, including wheels and handles, since soft-sided bags can expand.
Check what your fare name includes. Basic, Base, Light and Saver mean different things at different airlines.
For European flights, weigh the bag against the caps in the table.
If you need a paid bag, buy it at booking. Frontier says airport prices are higher, and easyJet charges £60 at the gate for a large cabin bag.
Keep medicines, documents and electronics in the under-seat bag, which is the one that stays with you if the bigger bag goes in the hold.