From 1 November, Ryanair is going to charge passengers for that extra hand luggage.
For now, you may still take an extra bag weighing up to 10 kg on board this low-cost Irish airline company’s planes for free. However, as of 1 November, you will be charged between €8 and €10 for that second piece of luggage. According to their website, non-priority customers who want to bring a second larger bag can buy the ’10kg Check-in Bag’.
You can do so by adding the €8 Priority Boarding during the initial flight booking. You can also do so by adding a 10kg bag later online. This second option, which costs €10, can be done up to 40 minutes before the scheduled flight departure time. This bag must be left at Ryanair’s bag drop desk at the airport before entering security. This new online bag option will only be available from 1 September for travel on/after 1 November.
If you have not added a bag to your booking, you will have to pay €20 or €25 at the boarding gate. Ryanair’s website states that “We have also increased the permitted size of the free small carry-on bag by 43% from 35 x 20 x 20cm to 40 x 20 x 25cm.” However, this free small bag is the incorrect size, you will pay the gate bag fee and your bag will be tagged and placed in the hold.
How is this different?
Previously, anyone could bring one, small carry-on bag and one larger piece of luggage, free of charge. The bigger bag was tagged at the gate and put in the hold, at no extra cost. “This led to the tagging of up to 120 free gate bags. This caused delays”, reads the website. “This new policy will reduced flight delays and means cheaper checked bag option.”
From November, non-priority customers can only bring one free, small carry-on bag. These people will not have the option of a free gate bag. Only priority customers can continue to bring two free bags – one small carry-on and one larger piece.
The new bag policy will apply to all travel on/after 1 November. Non-priority customers who booked flights before 1 September, for travel after 1 November, can either add Priority Boarding for €8 or a 10kg bag for €10. According to the company’s website, they also have the option of cancelling their booking for a full refund.
Baby bag still allowed
Small baby bags, up to 5kg, are still permitted free of charge for those travelling with a child under the age of two. Medical equipment can still also be brought on board their planes free of charge. These must be that have been pre-cleared by Ryanair’s assistance team.
On the plus side, this airline’s website states that “additional advantages for customers will be the ability to pack more liquids into their 10kg checked bag and walk to the boarding gate ‘hands free.'” People are advised to carefully read through Ryanair’s New bag policy and Cabin bag policy to see what is and is not permitted.
