Wizz Air is rolling out a £9 charge for “large” cabin baggage across all flights, following a trial of a new baggage policy.
The fee was first introduced on Wizz’s Luton-Katowice route on August 1, to encourage passengers to travel with small bags (measuring up to 42cm x 32cm x 25cm).
Those flying with a single piece of luggage no larger than these dimensions have been able to do so for free for the last two months.
The trial was carried out in a bid to stop “too many” cabin bags being taken onboard its aircraft, although Wizz has a “one bag” rule for carry-on luggage.
Wizz Air said: “Bags are routinely offloaded by airline crews due to lack of space, often causing delays.”
The new rules mean that anyone travelling with a larger piece of cabin baggage (up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm) will have to pay a £9 or €10 online fee. If passengers pay at the airport, the fee goes up to €20 at check-in or €30 at the gate.
The previous weight restriction of 10 kilogrammes per bag has been dropped, with passengers only required to be able to lift them safely and place them in the overhead bins.
Wizz Air’s chief financial officer Michael Powell said the new policy would create more onboard space and save passengers money.
“With the vast majority of passengers willing to bring smaller bags onboard, we are now the first European carrier to eliminate a chronic problem in the airline industry faced by all airlines,” said Powell.
This new policy does not apply to bookings made before October 4 or for flights departing before October 24, except on the trial route Luton-Katowice where the policy is already in force.
wizzair.com