The European Parliament recently approved a resolution asking air carriers to define uniform standards regarding the dimensions of hand luggage and the costs of boarding them. The decision, which was adopted by majority and by a show of hands, follows a ruling from the European Court of Justice, which in 2014 intervened to bring order to a tangle of measures and prices that change between an airline and a other.

The different rules that each company applies to hand luggage have come under fire, which often entail additional costs for passengers and make it difficult for them to actually compare the prices of airline tickets. Parliamentarians underline the need to review European legislation on passenger rights: the aim is to put an end to conflicting rules that create confusion and force travellers to make changes to their travel plans. 

Specifically, the court ruled that companies should not charge additional fees for carry-on bags "provided that they meet reasonable weight and size requirements and comply with applicable safety standards".