Canadians travelling to Europe could soon get free carry-ons & seat changes on certain flights

If you're hunting for cheap flights to Europe, this latest rule change could seriously upgrade your next trip — without costing you a dime.

Lawmakers in the EU just voted in favour of a plan that would force airlines to give travellers more rights, including free seat selection for kids and no more baggage fees for small carry-ons.

Yup, those annoying charges for your little suitcase and hand baggage could soon be a thing of the past on flights to, from or within Europe.

According to a press release from the European Parliament, travellers should have the right to bring one personal item — like a backpack or laptop bag — and one small hand luggage item (up to 7 kg and 100 cm in total dimensions) for free. So no more paying extra just to bring the basics.

It's not just about luggage, either. The proposed new rules — approved by the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee on Tuesday — also include free seat selection for children under 12 so they can sit next to the adults they're travelling with, and free travel for those accompanying people with reduced mobility.

The release explains that these changes are meant to make air travel fairer, clearer and less stressful for everyone involved.

For Canadian travellers, the rules would apply to any flight leaving from an EU country, no matter which airline you're flying — even if it's a Canadian or U.S. carrier. But on flights heading into Europe, you'd only be covered if you're flying with a European airline.

So that Air Canada flight from Toronto to Paris? Not covered. But the return trip on Air Canada? Covered. And a Lufthansa flight on the same route? You're good in both directions.

For travellers using booking websites or third-party services, the changes would also put more responsibility on those platforms.

The press release says that intermediaries (aka ticket sellers or travel sites) would have to clearly show the full cost of your ticket — including any service fees — and process refunds quickly if something goes wrong. If they don't, airlines would have to step in and refund you within a week.

These changes aren't final just yet — the full European Parliament still needs to vote on them in July. But if they're approved, they could seriously shake up how airlines, especially low-cost carriers, handle fees and customer service.

So if you've been dreaming of snagging cheap flights to Europe without all the surprise baggage fees and hidden charges, things might be looking up.

Just don't expect it all to happen overnight — but when it does, it could mean smoother skies and fuller wallets for Canadian travellers hopping across the pond.

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