Ryanair Carry-On

[tominrm]

Hello, last week I traveled on Frontier Airlines(U.S.) and became aware of their carry-on luggage and personal bag policy. Until then I thought one carry-on is always free as long as it fits in overhead bin.
I have not traveled on Ryanair since COVID outbreak, and I am wondering if the airline has changed(tightened) its carry-on policy in the last three years. I used to travel with my 50L Osprey Althus as carry-on without any problem on Ryanair as it fits in the overhead bin. Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.
I see a post here that says Gregory Z40 Pack was OK on Ryanair. If I have to pay extra for my Osprey 50L, I am going to buy a Gregory Z40L or similar. My old Osprey normally weighs about 8Kg so the weight is not an issue.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Hello, last week I traveled on Frontier Airlines(U.S.) and became aware of their carry-on luggage and personal bag policy. Until then I thought one carry-on is always free as long as it fits in overhead bin.
I have not traveled on Ryanair since COVID outbreak, and I am wondering if the airline has changed(tightened) its carry-on policy in the last three years. I used to travel with my 50L Osprey Althus as carry-on without any problem on Ryanair as it fits in the overhead bin. Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.
I see a post here that says Gregory Z40 Pack was OK on Ryanair. If I have to pay extra for my Osprey 50L, I am going to buy a Gregory Z40L or similar. My old Osprey normally weighs about 8Kg so the weight is not an issue.

What have you paid for? A small personal item that goes under the seat in front, or a ‘carry on’ stowable in overhead bin (up to 10kg)?

 

[trecile]

What have you paid for? A small personal item that goes under the seat in front, or a ‘carry on’ stowable in overhead bin (up to 10kg)?

Right. The most basic fares on RyanAir include only a personal item that will fit under the seat in front of you. You need to pay if you want to use the overhead binss.

 

[C clearly]

Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.

It is simpler if you realize that the bag just needs to fit into a box of the stated dimensions.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Hello, last week I traveled on Frontier Airlines(U.S.) and became aware of their carry-on luggage and personal bag policy. Until then I thought one carry-on is always free as long as it fits in overhead bin.
I have not traveled on Ryanair since COVID outbreak, and I am wondering if the airline has changed(tightened) its carry-on policy in the last three years. I used to travel with my 50L Osprey Althus as carry-on without any problem on Ryanair as it fits in the overhead bin. Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.
I see a post here that says Gregory Z40 Pack was OK on Ryanair. If I have to pay extra for my Osprey 50L, I am going to buy a Gregory Z40L or similar. My old Osprey normally weighs about 8Kg so the weight is not an issue.

Ignore what other people have posted elsewhere, Ryanair's policies are now very tight indeed and the three comments above are absolutely spot-on. 1) what have you paid for and 2) it needs to fit within the bin at the gate or they will ( highly likely) charge you.

 

[Vacajoe]

The problem with someone saying that “brand X’s 50L pack fits” is that it doesn’t take into consideration how each individual actually packs their bag. The same bag stuffed to overflowing is very different from a minimally packed one, yet you have no idea which was successfully carried on-board. Also, many airlines now have weight restrictions for carry-on bags, so that needs to be factored into your packing. I’ve carried several different packed backpacks onboard RyanAir enroute to Camino but have similarly seen multiple others charged a crazy amount at the gate to mandatorily hold-check theirs.

The best advice is to be sure it fits the dimensions stated, even though measuring a bag at home can be difficult due to their odd sizes. Don’t overpack, don’t hope that the airline will be lenient, and don’t focus on the one person’s advice that they successfully got a too-large bag through when ten others are warning you.

 

[henrythedog]

Hello, last week I traveled on Frontier Airlines(U.S.) and became aware of their carry-on luggage and personal bag policy. Until then I thought one carry-on is always free as long as it fits in overhead bin.
I have not traveled on Ryanair since COVID outbreak, and I am wondering if the airline has changed(tightened) its carry-on policy in the last three years. I used to travel with my 50L Osprey Althus as carry-on without any problem on Ryanair as it fits in the overhead bin. Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.
I see a post here that says Gregory Z40 Pack was OK on Ryanair. If I have to pay extra for my Osprey 50L, I am going to buy a Gregory Z40L or similar. My old Osprey normally weighs about 8Kg so the weight is not an issue.

The day that Mr O’Leary relaxes any revenue generating policy will be a cold day in hell. Great value; you get what you pay for to a consistent standard; but read the small print.

 

[henrythedog]

It is simpler if you realize that the bag just needs to fit into a box of the stated dimensions.

And unlike someone in the queue ahead of me several years ago who jumped on his bag to prove it could squeeze into the measuring device - you need to be able to get it out again.

He missed the flight; I nearly wet myself laughing. Don’t judge me, he deserved it.

 

[trecile]

The problem with someone saying that “brand X’s 50L pack fits” is that it doesn’t take into consideration how each individual actually packs their bag.

Also how the pack is constructed. Some are longer and/or have a rigid frame sheet that would keep it from fitting into the sizer.

 

[woody66]

Priority & 2 Cabin Bags: This allows you to carry a small personal bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard, to be stored in the overhead locker. It also allows you to board the plane first using the Priority Boarding queue at the gate.

 

[CWBuff]

Any time I "Prioritized" - my Boarding Priority was bumped up 1 Group, no more. If one is technically in Group 5 and get "Priority" as an 'advertised upgrade' please do not kid yourself that you'll board with (or better yet before) 1st Class Group1. Not going to happen.....

That said since the airlines are very good in trying to push you to commit to a higher fare by sweetly offering you the "included options" I say take couple of minutes more and do the math. Sometimes it pays to buy Basic ticket and then pay separately for checked in bag and the seat of your choice.
I was successful on couple of occastions to save some $$$

 

[tominrm]

Thank you very much to all who replied to my question. Now I have good understanding of Ryanair baggage policy. I have not purchased any tickets yet; I am asking this now so that I can compare the fares with baggage charges included. Obviously Ryanair has changed its policy to charge carry-on luggages even they fit easily in the overhead bin.

 

[trecile]

Obviously Ryanair has changed its policy to charge carry-on luggages even they fit easily in the overhead bin

I've only flown Ryanair ounce, back in 2018 and their policy was the same then as it is now.

Ryanair also charges to have a boarding pass printed at the airport. Non EU/EEA citizens can't use a boarding pass on their phones because Ryanair has a rule that you must have your boarding pass stamped before you go through airport security. So you have to find a place to print your boarding pass before your flight. If you purchase one of their options that includes advanced seat selection you can print your boarding pass up to two months before your flight. I was able to print my boarding pass before I left home.

 

[Bert45]

I have a rucksack that is just too long to get into Ryanair's bag-size frame. It has two stiffening rods in channels in the back of the rucksack. I take them out and place them diagonally in the rucksack so that they form the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. The length of the rucksack is then within the 55 cm limit.

 

[lt56ny]

I flew Rynair for the first time from Santiago to Barcelona. I paid for the 10 kilo bag carry on. I have a 45 liter REI pack. What I allways do before I get on a flight is take out my decathlon bag that looks like a mini shopping bag. I put the stuff I want for the flight in there when I get to the airport. I never checked in as I had a boarding pass and they didn't ask me to put my bag in a bin at the gate. Even if they had my bag would have easily fit. It was mid november so my pack weighed 8 kilos because I bought my wife and kids things. My pack, as always fit into the overhead bin with no problems at all. I stuck my decathlon bag on top of my pack and easy peasy.

 

[lisagb]

Hello, last week I traveled on Frontier Airlines(U.S.) and became aware of their carry-on luggage and personal bag policy. Until then I thought one carry-on is always free as long as it fits in overhead bin.
I have not traveled on Ryanair since COVID outbreak, and I am wondering if the airline has changed(tightened) its carry-on policy in the last three years. I used to travel with my 50L Osprey Althus as carry-on without any problem on Ryanair as it fits in the overhead bin. Because of its shape it is not easy to measure the dimension.
I see a post here that says Gregory Z40 Pack was OK on Ryanair. If I have to pay extra for my Osprey 50L, I am going to buy a Gregory Z40L or similar. My old Osprey normally weighs about 8Kg so the weight is not an issue.

Last time I flew any European airlines in Europe anything you carried on had a charge and if you didn’t pay for it ahead of time when you booked your ticket it was pricey to pay for at the airport. Apparently they are changing towards that internationally too so just make sure that you read all the flight details before you book.

 

[Glenshiro]

This is Ryanair's baggage policy. Read it carefully. Then read it again. Comply with it to the letter and you'll be ok. Some people get away with stretching the rules - but most don't, and that's expensive.

 

[hevskop]

Ignore what other people have posted elsewhere, Ryanair's policies are now very tight indeed and the three comments above are absolutely spot-on. 1) what have you paid for and 2) it needs to fit within the bin at the gate or they will ( highly likely) charge you.

Same with easyJet. Travelled for years with the same Osprey and last week had to pay extra cos it wouldn't fit in the bin and therefore not under the seat either. Time to change my pack for a smaller one or pay up.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Incidentally, @tominrm, you're probably aware of this but just in case - remember that the pack length changes with your torso length. So for example the Gregory Zulu 40 that you mentioned above meets the airline criteria for carry on in the small size but not in the large - it's way too long. The same of course applies to all makes. Technically, my Deuter Futura 32 is at 56 cm 1 centimetre too long, however so long as I haven't fully packed it, it comfortably fits within the bin... and I can get it back out again!. The Decathlon 18 litre day pack that I carry doubles as my under seat bag for the stuff that normally goes in the top pocket, making it short enough to work. I simply stuff the day pack back into the top pocket once I'm on the plane.

 

[CWBuff]

Call me "a conspiracy freak" but I have a nagging suspicion that the measuring bins by the gate became smaller

 

[Tincatinker]

On the few, unavoidable, occasions that I have flown with Ryanair lately I’ve just paid to put a large bag in the hold. Everything except my meds and a toothbrush goes in it. I know that that decision is not available to everyone but it suits me. Given their exorbitant rates very little luggage goes into the hold and with their extremely tight turnaround times my bag is usually on the belt by the time I’ve squeezed through Border Control.

I’m thinking of setting up an airline where a ticket to anywhere is €10 but with a variable landing charge depending on whether you want to get out of the aircraft at the actual destination airport or just somewhere proximate. There would, obviously, be a small charge for a single-use parachute which would be available from cabin staff on request

 

[Vacajoe]

One additional note is that US carry-on allowed sizes and weights is often different than those in the Eu and UK. I’ve seen many disappointed American passengers waylaid by extra fees and frantic repacking when they are making connections.

 

[tominrm]

Call me "a conspiracy freak" but I have a nagging suspicion that the measuring bins by the gate became smaller I thought I was the only one who thought so.

I thought I was only one with that suspicion.

 

[Tincatinker]

Ryanair Luggage Gauge

 

[CWBuff]

I thought I was only one with that suspicion.

Hmmm... sounds suspicious to me

 

[Bradypus]

There would, obviously, be a small charge for a single-use parachute which would be available from cabin staff on request

Reminded of the line from Fascinating Aida's song: "If you haven’t prepaid to use the steps you’ll have to f****** jump"
Great song for those not easily offended!

 

[Tincatinker]

Potty-mouthed my Gran would have called 'em. And then said "play it again".

 

[Bradypus]

Potty-mouthed my Gran would have called 'em. And then said "play it again".

It's a sign of Mr O'Leary's marketing nous that when the video was first released he had a link to it placed on the Ryanair website. Of course the song doesn't name any particular airline....

 

[Rita Flower]

Cheap flights - loved it when it came out - love it still.

 

[steveschauer]

Totally anecdotal, but…
Last fall we flew 3 RyanAir flights, Dublin to Faro, Santiago to London, and London to Dublin. Both our bags were small (24L) and “legal”, but, we weren’t checked on any of the flights, and I did not see anyone else being checked.

 

[Mycroft]

Thank you very much to all who replied to my question. Now I have good understanding of Ryanair baggage policy. I have not purchased any tickets yet; I am asking this now so that I can compare the fares with baggage charges included. Obviously Ryanair has changed its policy to charge carry-on luggages even they fit easily in the overhead bin.

A few years ago, Ryanair in the fine print stated that if you weren't EU, you had to PRINT OUT your boarding pass (or they would do it for you for $50), so be sure to triple check all the fine print on their site. I don't know if that requirement is still in play, but as Bradypus mentioned above, Mr O'Leary will not easily give up any way to make more money....

 

[trecile]

A few years ago, Ryanair in the fine print stated that if you weren't EU, you had to PRINT OUT your boarding pass (or they would do it for you for $50), so be sure to triple check all the fine print on their site. I don't know if that requirement is still in play, but as Bradypus mentioned above, Mr O'Leary will not easily give up any way to make more money....

Yes, I mentioned that in post #13 above. Here's the info from the Ryanair website:

https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-us/articles/12890473958161-I-am-a-non-EU-EEA-citizen-and-need-to-complete-a-visa-check-How-do-I-do-this-

As I understand it, this is meant to keep the boarding process running smoothly and efficiently.

 

[henrythedog]

Totally anecdotal, but…
Last fall we flew 3 RyanAir flights, Dublin to Faro, Santiago to London, and London to Dublin. Both our bags were small (24L) and “legal”, but, we weren’t checked on any of the flights, and I did not see anyone else being checked.

The staff have a pretty good idea what they’re looking for.