Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air: The New Rules Every Passenger Needs to Know
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LONDON HOTT RADIO | TRAVEL & CONSUMER NEWS | 11 OCTOBER 2026
Cabin baggage, airport check-in deadlines and upcoming EU passenger rights could change how people plan and pay for their next holiday.
By London Hott Radio | Travel investigation
Major new passenger rights regulations and baggage rules approved by the European Parliament are set to overhaul how Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air operate on flights to and from the EU. Starting incrementally ahead of a full mandate in 2027, these rules aim to harmonize baggage sizes and eliminate hidden low-cost carrier fees.
Budget airlines will be forced to display ticket prices inclusive of a standard cabin bag upfront. While this may raise base fares by approximately £20 to £40, airlines can still offer discounts for light travelers with only under-seat bags.
- Harmonized Sizes: Standard rules dictate a free under-seat personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) and a larger fee-free cabin wheelie bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 10kg) for all standard EU tickets by late 2027. Ryanair is adopting this across all flights in October 2027, while easyJet and Wizz Air are currently adjusting policies depending on the flight’s country of origin.
- No More Name Fees: Airlines can no longer charge a penalty for minor spelling mistakes or correcting name formatting if done within 24 hours of booking.
- Free Boarding Passes: Budget carriers will be banned from charging passengers extra fees just to print a boarding pass at the airport terminal.
Separate from the EU-wide baggage ruling, Ryanair is enforcing a stricter airport check-in policy starting November 2026. Passengers will be required to check in and drop off their checked bags at least 60 minutes before departure (a change from the previous 40-minute window). This is designed to counteract severe airport security bottlenecks and prevent missed flights.
Low-cost carriers will no longer be allowed to monetize seat selection at the expense of family safety. Under the new EU package, adjacent seating is entirely free for children under 12 traveling with an adult. Additionally, airlines can no longer cancel a passenger’s return ticket simply because they missed or bypassed the outward leg of their journey.
A massive infrastructural change coming in early 2027 will streamline arrival queues for UK travelers flying these airlines. The Home Office is beginning to roll out contactless biometric facial recognition at major airports. Travelers will be able to pass through the arrival eGates seamlessly without physically extracting or presenting their passports.
The story at a glance
- Ryanair: From 10 November 2026, airport check-in and bag drop are scheduled to close 60 minutes before departure, instead of 40 minutes.
- easyJet: Its published standard allowance remains one free under-seat cabin bag, with a larger overhead bag available subject to fare, membership or payment.
- Wizz Air: Its published standard allowance remains one free under-seat bag, with a larger trolley bag available through WIZZ Priority or eligible bundles.
- EU-wide changes: New passenger-rights reforms are expected to introduce a free personal item and an additional cabin bag for passengers covered by the legislation. The changes are not yet in force as of 11 October 2026.
- Important distinction: An EU rule does not automatically apply in the same way to every flight departing from the UK.
Ryanair’s new check-in deadline is confirmed in its official announcement, while easyJet and Wizz Air publish their current baggage allowances in their own help centres.
Ryanair’s Corporate Website
1. Ryanair: A significant airport deadline change
Ryanair
Effective 10 November 2026
Ryanair has announced that airport check-in desks and bag-drop services will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, rather than 40 minutes.
According to the airline’s announcement on 22 April 2026, the change is intended to give passengers checking in luggage more time to clear airport security and passport-control queues. Ryanair says passengers who check in online and travel without checked luggage will not be affected by this particular change.
Ryanair’s Corporate Website
What does this mean in practice?
- Passengers with checked luggage should plan to reach the airport earlier.
- A passenger arriving 45 minutes before departure may find that bag drop has already closed under the new policy.
- Online check-in remains separate from the airport bag-drop deadline. Ryanair says online check-in remains available until two hours before departure.
- Airport check-in fees and baggage fees are separate matters; this change does not mean that every passenger must check in at an airport desk.
Ryanair Help Centre+1
The passenger’s perspective: Earlier closure could reduce the risk of missing a flight because of queues, but it also reduces the time available to passengers who arrive late. The practical impact will depend on airport congestion, transport delays and how well travellers understand the deadline.
For Malta-based passengers flying on Ryanair, the safest approach is to check the departure airport’s instructions and the airline’s current booking information rather than relying on an old travel routine.
Official source: Ryanair’s announcement and explanation.
2. How much hand luggage can you take for free?
This is where many passengers could be caught out. A basic ticket does not necessarily include a suitcase for the overhead locker.
Ryanair
40 × 30 × 20 cm
One small personal bag included free. A larger cabin bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm, with a maximum weight of 10 kg, is available with eligible Priority or fare options.
Source: Ryanair’s published conditions.
Ryanair
easyJet
45 × 36 × 20 cm
One small under-seat bag included free, with a maximum weight of 15 kg. A larger bag measuring up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm is available with the appropriate booking or membership entitlement.
Source: easyJet’s official baggage policy.
easyJet
Wizz Air
40 × 30 × 20 cm
One free under-seat bag with a maximum weight of 10 kg. A trolley bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, also up to 10 kg, requires WIZZ Priority or an eligible bundle.
Source: Wizz Air’s official baggage allowance.
Wizz Air
These are the published standard allowances checked for this article, not a guarantee that every fare, route or special booking has identical conditions. Check the terms attached to your specific reservation before travelling.
Why bag measurements matter
A bag may look small enough but exceed the limit once its wheels, handles and bulging pockets are included. Airlines can refuse an oversized bag in the cabin or charge for handling it, depending on their terms and the circumstances. Ryanair’s conditions explicitly warn that oversized baggage can be refused or transferred to the hold for a fee.
Ryanair
For holidaymakers, that can turn an apparently cheap flight into a more expensive journey. The useful comparison is therefore not just the headline fare, but the total cost including baggage, seats and other extras you actually need.
3. The big EU change: Could two cabin bags become free?
One of the biggest developments for budget-airline passengers is the EU’s reform of passenger rights, including proposals and agreed measures concerning cabin baggage.
According to consumer organisation Which?, the reforms are expected to take effect from October 2027 at the earliest. The proposed allowance includes a personal item measuring up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm and an additional cabin bag, with a maximum weight of 7 kg. The precise implementation and applicable routes matter.
Which?
What would change?
Under the planned rules, passengers covered by the legislation would receive a defined cabin-baggage entitlement rather than having to pay an additional fee for every larger cabin bag.
One personal item
Maximum stated dimensions: 40 × 30 × 15 cm, designed to fit beneath the seat.
One additional cabin bag
The reported framework specifies a maximum weight of 7 kg. Passengers should check the final applicable dimensions and implementation details.
The policy is intended to improve transparency and make it easier to compare flight prices. However, it should not be reported as a benefit that every passenger can claim today.
Which?
Will it apply to flights from the UK to Malta?
This is an important distinction for British holidaymakers.
The EU’s rules and the identity of the operating airline matter. The Which? report explains that the changes apply to EU airlines and airlines flying from EU airports. UK-operated services departing from the UK may therefore be treated differently from services departing from an EU airport.
Which?
For example, a passenger flying from Malta to the UK may be in a different regulatory position from a passenger flying from the UK to Malta, even if both journeys are booked with the same airline brand.
What remains to be confirmed: The exact implementation on individual routes, final baggage dimensions where still outstanding, and how each airline will apply the requirements to its different operating companies and fares.
4. What are easyJet and Wizz Air doing about the changes?
Neither airline should be described as having already introduced the new EU baggage allowance across all its flights.
easyJet
Which? reported that easyJet was reviewing its position ahead of the new EU requirements and had not confirmed a final policy for UK departures. Its existing standard allowance remains one free small cabin bag, with larger cabin baggage subject to the relevant booking entitlement.
Which?
Official information: easyJet cabin-bag rules.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air has stated that it will comply with the new requirements once they come into force, while explaining that the precise changes were too early to confirm at the time of its response to Which?.
Its current published policy allows one free under-seat bag, with the larger trolley bag available through WIZZ Priority or qualifying bundles.
Which?
Official information: Wizz Air baggage allowance.
Ryanair
Ryanair has told Which? that it intends to adopt the new baggage requirements from October 2027, including a larger cabin bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing up to 10 kg. The airline said its changes would apply to all its flights.
Which?
That is the airline’s stated position, not evidence that the new allowance is already available to passengers.
5. Will these changes make flights more expensive?
There are two sides to this debate.
The argument for the changes
Standardising baggage entitlements could make it easier for travellers to compare fares and avoid discovering extra charges late in the booking process. Passengers travelling with a normal cabin suitcase could benefit if the additional bag becomes included in their ticket.
The argument from the airline’s perspective
Airlines must manage cabin space, aircraft weight, boarding times and operational costs. If more baggage is included in a standard fare, airlines may adjust their pricing or fare structures. Whether they do so, and by how much, cannot be established in advance.
Consumer group Which? has raised concerns about baggage charges and the difficulty of comparing the full price of low-cost flights. However, it would be premature to claim that the new rules will definitely raise or lower ticket prices across the market.
Which?
The key test will be the total price paid by the passenger, rather than whether an airline advertises a lower base fare.
6. Practical checklist before your next flight
Use this checklist for your next Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz Air booking.
Travel-ready checklist
0 of 6Check your exact cabin-bag allowance in your booking.Measure the bag, including wheels and handles.Check whether your fare includes a larger overhead bag.If flying Ryanair from 10 November 2026, plan for bag drop to close 60 minutes before departure.Check passport, visa or electronic travel-authorisation requirements for your destination.Review the airline app and airport guidance before leaving home.
7. Our verdict: What passengers should take away
The most immediate confirmed change in this investigation is Ryanair’s move to a 60-minute airport check-in and bag-drop deadline from 10 November 2026.
The larger development is the EU’s planned cabin-baggage reform. If implemented as reported, it could materially change what passengers receive with a standard ticket. But it is essential to distinguish future rights from the baggage allowances passengers can use today, especially when comparing UK departures with flights leaving Malta or another EU airport.
For now, travellers should check the exact allowance attached to their ticket, allow enough time at the airport and compare the full cost of a journey before booking.
London Hott Radio will continue to monitor the official airline announcements and implementation of the EU rules as further details become available.
Sources and fact-checking notes
The following primary airline sources and independent consumer reporting underpin this article:
- Ryanair — airport check-in and bag-drop deadline change
- Ryanair — terms and conditions
- easyJet — official cabin-bag policy
- Wizz Air — official baggage allowance
- Which? — hand-luggage changes and airline responses
Editorial note: This article reflects information checked on 11 October 2026. Future implementation dates and airline policies can change. The EU reform details should be checked against the final legislation and relevant official guidance before publication updates are made.
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