19.10.2026 20:11
The European Union is introducing new rules against additional fees arising from services such as baggage and seat selection on airline tickets. With the regulation expected to enter into force on October 23, 2027, the total price of the ticket will be shown at the start of the booking, and no additional fee will be charged for children under 14 to sit next to the adult they are traveling with. The new rules will also cover flights from EU countries to Turkey.
The fact that the price initially seen when buying a plane ticket rises with services such as baggage and seat selection has become the subject of a new regulation in the European Union (EU). The rules, which aim to strengthen passenger rights, introduce new obligations for airlines' pricing policies.
MEASURE AGAINST SURPRISE CHARGES IN TICKET PRICES
Under the new practice, airlines and ticket sales platforms will have to clearly show the total cost of services offered to passengers from the beginning of the reservation.
The price of tickets that include cabin baggage will also be considered within this scope. Thus, passengers will be able to see the amount they will pay for their travel before completing the purchase.
However, offering lower-priced tickets to passengers traveling with only a small personal item will remain possible. The regulation does not mean that every passenger is given the right to a free 7-kilogram cabin suitcase.
FREE SEAT RIGHT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
One of the key issues of the regulation was also the additional costs arising from children being placed in seats separate from their families on the plane.
With the new rules, passengers under the age of 14 will not have to pay extra to sit next to the adult they are traveling with.
In this way, it is aimed to prevent families from having to pay for seat selection in order to find adjacent seats.
IT ALSO CONCERNS THOSE TRAVELING FROM EUROPE TO TURKEY
The change will not be limited to flights within the European Union. Passengers departing from airports in EU countries to Turkey will also fall within the scope of the regulation.
On the other hand, since the United Kingdom is not a member of the European Union, EU rules will not automatically apply to all flights departing from the UK. The British government has announced separate steps regarding children sitting next to their parents free of charge.
NEW RULES WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 2027
The European Union's new provisions concerning airlines are envisaged to be implemented as of October 23, 2027.
The regulation also covers some fees arising during the correction of simple spelling errors in boarding passes and passenger names, as well as baggage and seat selection.