Airlines can continue to charge customers to check in their luggage, a European court has ruled.
The European Court of Justice said it was acceptable for airlines to charge a supplement as they incurred extra costs storing and processing checked-in luggage.
But it added that hand baggage was necessary for passengers so they should not be charged for carry-on bags.
The decision will come as a relief to low-cost carriers that rely on ancillary fees to bulk out their earnings.
The court upheld a challenge by Spanish budget carrier Vueling Airlines against a Spanish law that prohibits airlines from charging for checking in baggage.
The airline was given a 3,000 euro (£2,362) fine for adding €40 to the basic price of four tickets bought by one passenger for return flights between La Coruna in Spain to Amsterdam.
A Spanish court referred the case to Luxembourg to see if it complied with EU law on pricing freedom.
