As of this week, Airlines in Europe are no longer allowed to charge for hand luggage (ie, that roller bag that fits in the overhead bin, or that overstuffed backpack that just fits under the seat).
The move is part of a larger initiative to eliminate hidden costs for airline passengers.
According to a press release about the agreement, ‘air fares including allowance for a piece of hand baggage shall be displayed by default before the start of any booking process’.
While this is a huge win for passengers, low-cost airlines such as Ryanair are not happy. It is estimated that they made over 4.7 BILLION last year by tacking on fees for baggage as well as charging extra for seat selection.
Chances that US airlines will follow suit? Don’t hold your breath.