Ryanair to start charging for cabin bags
New luggage policy is second change this year and comes after previous plan caused flight delays
Ryanair is to start charging for some hand luggage with passengers allowed one small ‘personal’ bag but paying €/£8 for 10kg ‘cabin’ bags unless having priority boarding.
The company said it was introducing the new rules after previous changes earlier this year caused boarding delays when passengers’ cabin baggage had to be put in the hold.
With the new rules starting in November – and for bookings made after September 1 – the airline said it would only affect the 40% of (non-priority) customers and “speed up the boarding and cut flight delays”.
It said it expects most customers to switch to priority boarding as this allows passengers to bring two free bags into the cabin, one small 20litre personal bag and one 10kg cabin case.
Ryanair said in its press release:
“Previously, all non-priority customers could bring 1 (small) carry-on bag and 1 bigger (wheelie) bag free of charge.
“The bigger bag was tagged at the gate and put in the hold (for free). This led to the tagging of up to 120 free gate bags which caused delays to 25min turnarounds.
“From November, non-priority customers can only bring 1 free (small) carry-on bag – there will be no free gate bags.
“Only priority customers can continue to bring two free bags. (1 small carry-on + 1 wheelie bag).
“The policy will apply on/after November 1. Non-priority customers who booked flights before September 1 (for travel after Nov 1) can either add Priority Boarding for €/£8 or a 10kg bag for €/£10 or they may cancel their booking for a full refund.
“We have increased the size of the free small carry-on bag by over 40% from 35 x 20 x 20cm (14litre) to 40 x 20 x 25cm (20litre).”
Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs said: “Priority Boarding customers will continue to enjoy two free carry-on bags. All other (non-priority) customers will be allowed one free (small) carry-on bag, and those who wish to check in a second bigger 10kg bag can do from €/£8 at the time of booking.
“This new policy will speed up the boarding and cut flight delays. 60% of customers will be unaffected by these changes and we expect that the other 40% will either choose to buy Priority Boarding or a 10kg check bag or will choose to travel with only one (free) small bag as 30% already do so today.”
