Cabin bag rules are once again a talking point for anyone flying in and out of Europe, with easyJet flights in the spotlight as EU-side regulations evolve. For travellers, the practical question is simple: what can you bring on board without paying extra?
Under easyJet's long-standing policy, every passenger gets one small cabin bag free of charge, sized at roughly 45x36x20cm, which must fit under the seat in front. Anything bigger — the 'large cabin bag' at around 56x45x25cm — needs either a paid add-on, a seat with extra legroom (Upfront or Extra Legroom rows) or a flexible fare type. Fines at the gate for oversized bags can be steep, which is why the budget airline is famously strict about sizer checks at boarding.
On the regulatory side, the EU has been moving on airport security rules that affect what goes inside your bag. The phased rollout of new CT scanners was meant to lift the 100ml liquid limit and allow laptops to stay in bags at a growing number of European airports — but the rules have been applied unevenly, and some airports have had to reimpose the old limits when scanner deadlines were tightened. That means the liquids-and-laptops experience can still vary from one European hub to the next, so checking your departure airport's current guidance before you fly is worth a minute of your time.
Hand luggage size limits themselves remain largely a patchwork across Europe. The EU's aviation authorities have explored standardising cabin bag dimensions so that one bag fits all carriers, but for now airlines set their own allowances — and low-cost carriers in particular differ noticeably. easyJet's small bag is comparable to Ryanair's, though its larger paid tiers are more generous than some rivals. If you're hopping between carriers on a multi-stop European trip, the safest move is to pack to the smallest allowance on your itinerary.
Why does this matter? Because cabin bag fees are one of the biggest hidden costs of budget flying in Europe. A family of four each adding a large cabin bag on a return trip can easily spend more than £100 extra — money that could go toward a better hotel or an extra night. Booking the right fare at the point of purchase, rather than paying gate penalties, is nearly always cheaper. And with security rules in flux, packing liquids inside easy reach in a clear bag keeps the airport leg painless whichever scanner regime you encounter.
The takeaway for UK travellers heading to Europe: know your allowance before you pack, measure the bag at home, and keep an eye on your departure airport's liquids policy as the EU's security overhaul continues to roll out unevenly.
First reported by Secret London.
