KLM Baggage allowance: cheapest fare now includes a smaller bag than Ryanair

KLM now offers its Economy Basic fare on more European routes, leaving passengers who choose its cheapest ticket with a smaller free personal item allowance than Ryanair. First introduced on selected routes in July 2025, the fare became available on more European flights from June 2026. Unlike other KLM Economy fares, it does not include a carry-on suitcase.

Travellers booking KLM's cheapest European flights may be surprised to discover just how little luggage they can bring on board free of charge.

The Dutch airline began selling its Economy Basic fare on selected European routes on 1 July 2025, initially for flights departing from 9 September 2025. The trial included routes from Amsterdam and Paris to destinations such as Florence, Athens, Dublin and Turin.

On 19 February 2026, aviation industry publication Luchtvaartnieuws reported that KLM planned to make the fare available on additional European routes. According to travel industry reporting, KLM began introducing the Basic fare on more European flights from 30 June 2026.

Unlike KLM's other Economy fares, Basic tickets include only one small personal item. And perhaps most surprisingly, the permitted dimensions are smaller than those offered by budget airline Ryanair.

KLM’s baggage allowance vs Ryanair’s: which airline allows more?

When comparing the baggage size permitted by KLM and Ryanair, the difference is significant.

Both airlines allow passengers to bring one small personal item that fits underneath the seat in front of them. However, Ryanair offers more space.

For context, the table below also includes a few other European airlines. easyJet is the most generous, with a free under-seat bag of 45 × 36 × 20 cm, while Wizz Air and Transavia offer the same size as Ryanair. Only Lufthansa's new Economy Basic fare is as restrictive as KLM's.

This means Ryanair allows a free personal item with approximately 33% more theoretical volume than KLM's Economy Basic fare.

Those extra five centimetres of depth could make a difference for passengers travelling with a backpack or small weekend bag.

However, these figures represent the theoretical maximum volume calculated from the permitted dimensions, rather than the usable capacity of every bag.

When did KLM change its baggage rules?

KLM began selling its Economy Basic fare on 1 July 2025, initially testing the new ticket category on selected European routes.

The first flights under the new conditions were scheduled to begin on 9 September 2025, according to the Dutch Consumers' Association.

Following the initial trial, KLM's plans to make the Basic fare available on more European routes were reported on 19 February 2026.

Travel industry reports subsequently identified 30 June 2026 as the start of the fare's introduction on additional European routes.

Importantly, KLM has not reduced the carry-on luggage allowance across all Economy tickets. Instead, the airline has made a cheaper fare category with fewer included services available to more passengers.

What is the KLM baggage allowance for Economy Basic?

Under KLM's Economy baggage rules, the amount of luggage passengers can bring depends on their ticket type.

Passengers booking the Economy Basic fare receive:

• One small personal item measuring up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm
• No included carry-on suitcase
• No included checked baggage
• The option to purchase additional luggage allowances

A larger carry-on suitcase measuring up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm can be added for an additional fee. According to KLM, passengers can purchase this allowance through My Trip up to four hours before departure.

Alternatively, passengers can choose an Economy Light, Standard or Flex ticket, which includes a small personal item and a larger carry-on bag.

Standard and Flex tickets also generally include one checked bag weighing up to 23 kg, while Basic and Light tickets do not include checked baggage.

Why does KLM's Basic fare exclude carry-on luggage?

When KLM introduced the Basic fare in 2025, the airline explained that reducing the amount of carry-on luggage could help address limited overhead storage space and make boarding more efficient.

Carry-on suitcases sometimes have to be transferred to the hold at the last minute when overhead compartments become full, potentially causing boarding delays.

The Basic fare also allows KLM to offer a lower starting ticket price while charging separately for additional luggage.

This brings KLM's cheapest European fares closer to the pricing models used by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet.

Consumer organisation criticises KLM's baggage policy

However, the introduction of the Basic fare has also attracted criticism.

On 15 July 2025, the Dutch Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond) criticised KLM's new baggage rules, describing them as confusing for passengers.

The organisation also questioned whether charging separately for ordinary carry-on luggage was compatible with a 2014 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning reasonable hand luggage allowances.

The criticism highlights an ongoing debate about whether airlines should be allowed to charge separately for carry-on luggage that meets reasonable size and weight requirements.

However, the Consumers' Association's criticism does not mean that KLM's Basic fare has been ruled unlawful.

What should passengers check before booking?

Passengers booking a KLM Economy flight should carefully check the baggage restrictions associated with their ticket.

In particular, travellers should compare the total price of a Basic fare with added carry-on luggage against the price of an Economy Light ticket.

Passengers should also check the dimensions of their personal item. A backpack accepted by Ryanair may exceed KLM's free baggage allowance.

KLM also warns that carry-on luggage exceeding its size or weight limits may need to be checked in for an additional fee.

Passengers should check the baggage conditions displayed during booking, as allowances and available fare types can vary depending on the route and ticket.

Does a Basic ticket affect passenger rights?

Although KLM's Basic fare includes fewer baggage benefits, passengers retain the same statutory air passenger rights as those travelling on more expensive tickets.

Under UK261, eligible passengers may be entitled to compensation for qualifying flight delays or cancellations.

The standard compensation amounts depend on the flight distance:

• £220 for flights of 1,500 km or less.
• £350 for flights over 1,500 km within the EU and other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km.
• £520 for flights over 3,500 km that fall within the highest compensation category.

For delayed flights, compensation generally requires an arrival delay of at least three hours, although additional conditions apply to certain long-haul journeys. Compensation for cancellations depends on factors including when passengers were informed, the alternative travel arrangements offered and the cause of the disruption.

The type of ticket purchased does not affect eligibility for compensation.

The bottom line

Since introducing its Economy Basic fare in July 2025, KLM has made the ticket category available on more European routes, including additional flights from June 2026.

With a free personal item allowance of just 40 × 30 × 15 cm, KLM's cheapest fare now offers less space than Ryanair's equivalent allowance.

For travellers hoping to avoid unexpected baggage fees, checking the exact KLM baggage allowance before booking is more important than ever.