What would passengers do if cabin bags weren’t included?
The EU recently forced a major overhaul of air passenger rights — airlines must now include a cabin bag in their advertised fare. Here is a grammar question: how do we talk about what would happen if airlines didn’t follow that rule? We use the second conditional.
The second conditional describes a situation that is imaginary or contrary to present reality. It lets us explore hypothetical outcomes: “If airlines didn’t include a cabin bag, passengers would pay extra.”
How do we form it?
If + past simple, would + base verb
If airlines didn’t include a cabin bag, passengers would pay extra.
Passengers would pay extra if airlines didn’t include a cabin bag.
The two clauses can come in either order. Important: never use would in the if-clause. ❌ If airlines would not include… → ✓ If airlines didn’t include…
In formal or written English, were can replace was: “If a carrier were to break the rules, it would face heavy fines.”
When do we use it?
- Imagining a different present reality: If the EU hadn’t reached a deal, airlines would still be charging extra for cabin luggage.
- Hypothetical consequences of a rule: If an airline didn’t explain how to file a compensation claim, passengers would find it very difficult to get their money back.
- Personal hypotheticals: If my flight were cancelled within 14 days of departure, I would claim €400 in compensation.
Watch out for these mistakes
| ❌ Incorrect | ✓ Correct |
| If airlines will not include cabin bags, passengers pay extra. | If airlines didn’t include cabin bags, passengers would pay extra. |
| If the flight would be cancelled, I get a refund. | If the flight were cancelled, I would get a refund. |
| If the airline will break the rules, it would face fines. | If the airline broke the rules, it would face fines. |
Try these
Each item describes a real situation from the new EU rules. Rewrite it as a second conditional sentence.
- Airlines must include a personal item and a cabin bag in the base fare. Passengers don’t pay extra for luggage. (imagine airlines didn’t do this)
→ If airlines ____________ - A flight is delayed by more than three hours. A passenger can claim compensation. (use could)
→ If a flight ____________ - The airline provides a hotel room for stranded passengers. They don’t pay for their own accommodation.
→ If the airline ____________ a hotel room, passengers ____________ have to pay for their own accommodation. - I wait for more than two hours at the airport. The airline gives me free refreshments.
→ If I ____________ for more than two hours, the airline ____________ - An airline from the United States flies to Paris. The new EU cabin bag rules apply to it. (use were to)
→ If a US airline ____________ to Paris, ____________ - The airline doesn’t respond to my claim within 30 days. I can complain to the regulator. (use could)
→ If the airline ____________ within 30 days, I ____________
CEFR Level B1 / ICAO Level 4
The second conditional imagines a situation that isn’t real right now — but what about situations that could actually happen? Compare the two structures in Structure: ‘The first conditional’.