The Spanish flag carrier, Iberia, has already updated the terminology it uses to describe hand baggage in preparation for the introduction of new European Union rules that will guarantee passengers the right to bring at least one so-called ‘personal item’ on board for free.
On Tuesday, the Madrid-based airline updated its website to describe what items passengers are allowed to bring on board, creating a distinction between ‘hand baggage,’ which are items that go in the overhead bin, and ‘personal luggage’ that can fit underneath the seat in front.
The changes come just days after the Conciliation Committee of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament approved new air passenger rights, which, for the first time, set out the minimum rights on what items of luggage passengers are allowed to bring on board a plane with them.
Under the revised rules, lawmakers determined that passengers must be allowed to bring one personal item measuring no more than 40x30x15cm on board the plane with them at no additional cost. This item should be placed underneath the seat in front, with the exception of bulkhead and emergency exit row seats.
Meanwhile, hand baggage has been defined as larger trolley bags that have to be placed in the overhead bin because they are too large to fit underneath the seat in front.
Airlines will be required to allow passengers to bring hand baggage on board the plane with them, subject to space, although they will still be allowed to charge extra for trolley bags, and can still set their own maximum dimensions and weight limits, subject to a reasonableness test.
Although the revised rules aren’t expected to be ratified by the European Parliament and Council until early July, Iberia has already updated its hand baggage terminology:
- Passengers will be allowed one personal carry-on luggage item, which measures a maximum of 40x30x15cm.
- Economy Class passengers will also be permitted one item of hand baggage measuring no more than 56x40x25cm, and weighing a maximum of 10kg.
- Business Class passengers on short-haul flights will be permitted one item of hand baggage measuring no more than 56x40x25cm, and weighing a maximum of 14kg.
- Business Class passengers on long-haul flights will be permitted two items of hand baggage measuring no more than 56x40x25cm, and weighing a maximum of 14kg each.
The amount of baggage that passengers can bring with them on board an Iberia flight hasn’t been changed, but, instead, the airline has simply updated the terminology to avoid any confusion caused by the change in passenger rights.
Unlike many low-cost airlines, Iberia doesn’t charge passengers an additional fee to bring an item of hand baggage on board the plane with them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that passengers won’t still end up having their bags checked into the hold.
Even the European Parliament recognizes that there are often more trolley bags trying to be brought on board a flight than there is space in the overhead bins. As a result, airlines are still permitted to make up their own rules over who gets priority access to the overhead bins.
In the case of Iberia, this is based on frequent flyer status and ticket type, which determines the order in which you board the plane. Gate agents are issued the exact number of bag tags for the number of bags that can fit in the overhead locker. Once they run out of tags, everyone else’s hand baggage gets gate checked.
Because you never know whether your hand baggage will be gate checked or not, passengers are strongly advised to bring a personal luggage item with them, in addition to their trolley bag. Should the hand baggage need to be gate checked, any essential items, like medication, personal electronics, cash, and travel documents, can still be brought on board the plane in the personal item of luggage.
