Carry-On Luggage Rules 2026: What Actually Changed

This is probably the biggest change for everyday travelers. European airports have been rolling out CT scanners, the same kind of 3D imaging tech used in hospitals. These machines scan your bag so thoroughly that you don't need to pull out your laptop or liquids at security. And the 100 ml restriction? Gone at checkpoints that use them.

Sounds great. But here's the catch.

Not every terminal has them. Sometimes not even every lane within the same terminal. At Frankfurt Airport, for instance, Terminal 1 (Gates A, Z, B-West) has CT scanners installed. Terminal 2 (Gates D and E)? Still the old X-ray machines. Same airport, different rules depending on which gate you walk toward.

Here's where major German airports stand right now:

The Berlin BER airport finished its CT rollout ahead of schedule in August 2025. 24 lanes, both terminals. And yet Berlin still tells passengers to stick to the 100 ml rule. Why? Software updates. I think that's the airport being cautious, but it also means you can't fully rely on the new rules there.

Across Europe, the picture is mixed. Dublin, Rome Fiumicino, and Milan Linate have fully lifted the 100 ml limit. Paris CDG, Athens, and Amsterdam Schiphol? Still 100 ml.

My honest advice: unless you know exactly which security lane you'll use, keep your liquids in the 1-liter bag. Better safe than standing at the security bin repacking everything.

Ryanair pulled a classic move. They gave something with one hand and took away with the other. And honestly, this is probably the 2026 carry-on rules change most travelers will feel directly.

On 4 September 2025, Ryanair increased the free underseat bag allowance from 40 x 25 x 20 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm (Ryanair Bag Policy). That's 24 liters instead of 20. Roughly 20% more volume. A genuinely welcome change, especially for travelers who pack a backpack instead of a trolley.

But then came November 2025.

According to The Irish Times, Ryanair doubled the bonus gate staff receive for flagging oversized bags. From 1.50 euros to 2.50 euros per bag caught. The old monthly cap of 80 euros? Scrapped entirely.

So now gate agents have a direct financial incentive to measure your carry-on bag size. Get caught? That's a 46 to 80 euro gate fee. Statistically, only about 0.1% of passengers get hit (roughly 200,000 out of 200 million per year). Small odds. But when it happens to you, those 80 euros sting.

If you're flying Ryanair, measure your bag before you leave the house. And I mean everything, including wheels and handles. Our full guide to Ryanair carry-on luggage rules (Coming Soon) breaks it all down.

On January 15, 2026, the EU Parliament voted 632 to 15 in favor of free hand luggage on all EU flights. That's an overwhelming majority. Spain already set the tone in 2024 by fining five budget airlines 179 million euros for abusive cabin bag regulations.

Now for the important part. This is not law yet, and it won't change your hand luggage rules this year.

The Parliament has stated its position. The EU Council (meaning the member states) still needs to agree. Then comes trilogue negotiations. Realistically? We're looking at 2027 at the earliest, probably 2028. For your flight this summer, nothing changes.

I think the direction is right. But airlines won't give up this revenue without a fight, and the legislative process in the EU moves slowly. A few more travel seasons will pass before this actually affects your boarding pass.

Quick rundown:

• Liquids: Stick to the 100 ml rule unless you're certain you'll pass through a CT scanner lane. When in doubt, pack the 1-liter bag.

• Ryanair: Your free bag is now 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Good news. But measure it carefully, because gate enforcement has never been tighter.

• EU free hand luggage: Not in effect yet. Earliest 2027, likely 2028.

• Need a new carry-on? We recently tested the best Samsonite carry-on suitcases. And if you want to travel light, check our guide to lightweight carry-on suitcases (Coming Soon).