EU bars airlines from imposing family seating and hidden baggage fees

The European Parliament has approved new air passenger rules preventing airlines from charging families extra to sit together and introducing measures aimed at eliminating hidden baggage costs.

According to Pravda.Ru, airlines will be required to seat children under 14 next to accompanying adults without additional charges. Pregnant women and passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility will also receive convenient seating without extra fees.

Under the rules, ticket prices displayed in search results must include one piece of cabin baggage, helping passengers identify the actual cost of flights before completing bookings.

Existing compensation provisions for major disruptions remain, with passengers eligible for between €250 and €600 for delays exceeding three hours, depending on flight distance.

Airlines must also inform affected passengers about their rights and compensation procedures within 96 hours.

The rules additionally prohibit carriers from automatically cancelling a passenger’s return ticket when the traveller misses the outbound flight, ensuring the remaining journey stays valid for subsequent travel.