New Carry-On Baggage Policies at Ryanair

This message may particularly annoy the budget travelers among frequent flyers: Ryanair is increasing the fees for Priority Boarding and luggage check-in. You can read about the additional costs coming your way here.

The changes to Ryanair's carry-on baggage policies are frustrating customers: as of November 2018, there is a fee for a service that was previously free, as non-Priority passengers can no longer bring a free carry-on bag measuring 21.5 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches. Now, just a few weeks after the new carry-on baggage rules were implemented at Ryanair, the airline is raising fees once again. I have summarized all the important details and additional costs that you will encounter when booking a flight with Ryanair.

What changes for you | Overview of costs & rates | Your opinion

A year ago, a new carry-on baggage policy at the budget airline stirred up controversy, as since January 2018, passengers who have not booked the paid Ryanair Priority Boarding must check their carry-on bag at the gate and cannot take it onboard as usual. Customers begrudgingly accepted this restriction, as this baggage check was previously free. However, on November 1, 2018, the carry-on baggage rules at Ryanair changed once again.

As Senior Marketing Manager Kenny Jacobs announced, Priority Boarding customers will still be able to bring one large and one small carry-on bag onboard the aircraft as usual. Non-Priority guests, however, have only been allowed to bring a small carry-on bag measuring 15.7 x 7.9 x 9.8 inches into the cabin since November 1 of last year, and must check the second, larger carry-on bag for €8 per flight. Jacobs emphasizes that this is to further expedite the boarding process and minimize delays. According to Ryanair, additional revenue is not a factor; 60% of customers would not notice the change anyway.

Now, in January 2019, Ryanair is increasing the fee for Priority Boarding as well as for checking in the 22 lb luggage. The additional fee for Priority Boarding now costs €6 to €10 (previously €6), making it up to €4 more expensive on some routes. If you want to check a 22 lb piece of luggage, it will now cost you €10 to €12 (previously €8), which also corresponds to an increase of up to €4.

To give you an overview of the permitted dimensions of carry-on baggage and the additional costs when booking with Ryanair, I have summarized the changes to the baggage regulations at Ryanair concisely:

Priority Boarding costs €6-10 per flight when booked directly. Late addition also costs €6-10 per flight.

Included in the fare for free are two carry-on bags: a small carry-on bag measuring 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inches and a 22 lb carry-on bag measuring 21.5 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches.

You can bring both bags onboard.

You can board the plane before non-Priority guests.

An additional 22 lb luggage piece can be registered for €10-12 when booked directly. If you want to add a 22 lb luggage piece after booking, it will also incur €10-12 per flight.

A standard luggage piece weighing 44 lb can be registered for €25-35 (depending on the flight date) when booked directly.

If you want to add a 44 lb luggage piece after booking, it will cost €40 per flight.

Included in the fare for free is a small carry-on bag measuring 15.7 x 7.9 x 9.8 inches.

If you wish to check a carry-on bag weighing up to 22 lb and measuring 21.5 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches, you will incur €10-12 when booking directly. Late addition will also cost €10-12 per flight. If you check your larger carry-on bag at the baggage drop-off at the airport, you will incur €20; if you check it at the gate, you will have to pay €25.

You can only bring the small carry-on bag onboard.

A standard luggage piece weighing 44 lb can be registered for €25-35 (depending on the flight date) when booked directly.

If you want to add a 44 lb luggage piece after booking, it will cost €40 per flight.

Although Ryanair continues to argue that this improves punctuality and increases the dimensions for the small, free carry-on bag, many customers still feel they are losing out. In fact, it is getting more challenging to travel on vacation with just carry-on luggage. If you want to travel with 'large carry-on,' with Ryanair, you will have no choice but to add Priority Boarding for €6-10 per flight, effectively paying an extra €20 for a round trip.

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