New hand luggage measuring frames at Palma Airport: More clarity or just theatre at the gate?

More room for the bag — but the question remains: who really benefits?

In the morning the departure hall B in Palma hums: announcements in Catalan, Spanish and English, the clatter of rolling suitcases, the smell of strong coffee from a mobile stand. Among them, new silver metal frames have recently been placed, into which passengers must slide their hand luggage. Ryanair has installed them at several airports — officially to avoid misunderstandings. But the central question is: Do these measuring frames really create more transparency or do they only generate new conflicts during boarding and checks?

What specifically changes

The most important change: According to Ryanair, the free hand luggage may now measure up to 40 x 30 x 20 centimetres. For many Mallorca holidaymakers this means more leeway — especially for short trips or weekends. Still: the bag must fit under the seat in front. Anyone who wants to bring an additional small trolley on board still needs priority boarding.

The numbers sound like progress on paper. In practice, however, human judgment at the gate often determines the outcome — and that has not been eliminated by the measuring frames so far.

Why this stands out particularly in Mallorca

Mallorca is a short-trip destination: families, couples and tradespeople shuttle between the island and the mainland; many flights are short and often fully booked. In recent months, heated discussions have been heard at the airport because staff rated small deviations as 'too large' and luggage was repacked at a cost or stored in the hold. Such scenes annoy people, cost time — and sometimes money.

A traveller from Cologne, waiting at Terminal B at 11:15, summed up the mood: 'Finally a bit of breathing room — but I hope the checks are fairer now.' Voices like this can be heard in the queue: relief, but also scepticism.

What matters in the implementation

The measuring frames are only as good as the rules behind them. Three aspects are crucial here and are little discussed in public:

1. Staff discretion: Staff still make decisions under time pressure. Without binding written instructions for dealing with borderline cases, interpretation remains possible — and with it the potential for disputes.

2. Economic incentives: Low-cost airlines earn money from add-ons like priority boarding and checked baggage. If measuring frames are routinely used as a reason for charges, there is a real risk that the measure serves the company's interest — not the passenger's.

3. Visibility and communication: New rules are of little use if they are not clearly communicated at the airport and online. Many travellers only learn about changes at the gate, which leads to unnecessary confrontations.

Concrete opportunities and solution approaches

So that the measure does not remain merely cosmetic, a few pragmatic steps are possible in Palma and elsewhere:

Transparency at the gate: Clear signs with the permitted dimensions at check-in and security. A short visible poster next to the measuring frame with a photo example prevents arguments.

Standardised measuring procedures: A short training programme for gate staff that provides clear decision criteria in centimetres and millimetres reduces arbitrariness.

Pre-measurement online: An interactive calculator in the booking area or a reminder email with instructions for easy measuring at home — old-fashioned tape measure recommended — would avoid many surprises.

Complaint and evidence channels: A clear, easily accessible process for passengers who feel unfairly treated — for example a form at the airport or a dedicated email address with deadlines.

Tips for travellers to Mallorca

Practical advice is quick to give: Measure your bag at home, pack it so that it definitely fits under the seat in front, and if in doubt take a photo of the bag in the measuring frame at the gate. Digital evidence and staying calm often save nerves — and sometimes a few euros.

Conclusion: A step in the right direction, but not a cure-all

The new measuring frames at Palma's gates are more than a visual update: They can lead to less chaos at the gate — if Ryanair and the airport operators take implementation seriously. Otherwise, it remains the usual performance: a bit of theatre, rising fees and travellers improvising with tape measures. In Mallorca, where holidaymakers want to be on the buses to the beach on time, what matters in the end is one thing above all: reliability, not just new metal frames.