Ryanair’s New Baggage Policy – Everything You Need to Know
Reduced checked baggage fees and a limit to the number of bags brought on board. Ryanair’s new baggage policy is certainly grabbing all the headlines!
When Ryanair announce any changes – its big news and this time was no exception. As usual there were click bait headlines ( my pet hate ) saying ‘Ryanair scrap free cabin bag’ and people were quick to complain and accuse Michael O’Leary of another money making scam. However, on this occasion, it’s not all bad. Here is everything you need to know about Ryanair’s new baggage policy!
If you want to ensure your bag stays in the cabin you need to book priority boarding.
If you book priority boarding, plus, flex plus and family plus tickets, you will still be allowed to take a small bag (35cm x 20cm x 20cm) and a large cabin bag (55cm x 40cm x 20cm) on board with you. All other passengers can only take the small bag (35cm x 20cm x 20cm) on board and must give their large cabin bag to the Ryanair staff at the boarding gate. This will be put in the hold so you will have to collect it from the baggage carousel, when you arrive at your destination. Note there will be no charge for this.
My thoughts: From recent experience of flying with Ryanair, this was inevitable. There were too many bags being brought on board and more often than not, we had to place our bags in the hold at the boarding gate. Priority boarding is only €5 though so I’m wondering if everyone books priority, how will Ryanair ‘guarantee’ that your bag will be able to go on board with you. According to their website “only the first 90 wheelie bags are guaranteed to go in the overheads”. Watch this space!
It’s now cheaper to check in a bag!
The good news is that checked baggage charges have changed. Ryanair have increased the check-in bag allowance from 15kg t0 20kg and reduced the cost to €25 each way. There is a €10 supplement (each way) for peak travel times such as Easter, Christmas and summer holidays.
My thoughts: When you think that Aer Lingus charge €80 return on short haul flights to Spain, Algarve etc and €110 return to the Canary Islands, for a 20kg checked bag, €50 with Ryanair, is great news for leisure travellers. I can only assume that more people will check in bags now, which will hopefully help with the priority boarding issue. I wonder will Aer Lingus reduce their baggage charge fees now too?
What about infants or people travelling with medical equipment?
Anyone travelling with an infant can take an additional bag (5kg) on board. Anyone travelling with medical equipment needs to contact Ryanair special assistance, but the policy on this has not changed.
New changes come into effect on the 15th of January.
Sarah
