IN THE BAG
Ryanair baggage rules: What size hand luggage can I take and what is the checked bags allowance?
Plus the viral Ryanair-approved bags we've come across
RYANAIR's cheap flights come with a catch - you're only allowed a small bag on board.
That is unless you want to pay additional fees. Here we break down their rules.
1
What size hand luggage can I take on a Ryanair flight?
Ryanair passengers can only take a small personal bag into the cabin free of charge, measuring a maximum of 23cm x 20cm x 40cm.
They first changed their luggage rules in January 2018, removing the option for a free suitcase.
To be able to take a suitcase into the cabin, passengers need to purchase priority boarding.
Costing from £6 to £36 at the time of booking and £20 to £38 post booking, this allows a small personal bag alongside a 55cm x 40cm x 20cm suitcase into the cabin.
The bag must weigh under 10kg to be allowed into the cabin - and this always isn't guaranteed, depending on how many passengers purchase priority boarding.
If this is the case, it will be put into the hold.
For passengers travelling with a baby, you can also take two pieces of baby equipment free of charge on board - like a buggy or a travel cot - as well as a 5kg bag measuring 20cm x 35cm x 40cm into the cabin.
What can you bring on a Ryanair flight?
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Aside from your usual possessions Ryanair permits other kinds of hand luggage.
Sport equipment is allowed if it fits within the cabin bag allowance.
If it is too big, passengers must purchase an extra seat for the equipment or check it into the hold.
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Bikes should be put in a protective box or bag and no electric bikes are accepted on board.
Likewise musical equipment also follow the same rules as sports gear.
You cannot take these items on board a Ryanair flight:
- Guns or firearms
- Pointed weapons or sharp objects
- Blunt instruments capable of causing injury
- Explosives of substances that are flammable
- Toxic and chemical substances
In addition you cannot check these objects into the hold:
- E-cigs
- Vehicles and items with with a lithium-ion battery such as a phone or iPad
- Replicas of guns or toy guns
- Gases
- Oxidizers and organic peroxides
- Corrosives
- Edible oil that exceeds 1 litre such as olive oil
To read the full list of prohibited items check Ryanair's website.
What is Ryanair's checked baggage allowance?
Ryanair offers two options for check-in bags.
The first one is a bag that weighs up to 10kg and the second a 20kg bag.
20kg checked bags cannot be larger than 80 x 120 x 120cm.
If your bag is bigger than this, it must be given to the oversize baggage desk and you will be charged extra.
Travellers are allowed to buy up to three checked 20kg bags per person.
If your baggage weighs over the limit, then Ryanair will charge you an excess £9 to £11 per extra kilo.
However, the airline does allow bag "pooling", which lets groups of passengers split the weight.
For example, instead of both having 20kg each, one passenger can have 15kg while the other has 25kg.
Any bags weighing 32 kilos or more or that exceed the allowed dimensions will not be accepted.
How much does it cost to check a bag with Ryanair?
The airline's 10kg suitcase fee ranges from £11.99 to £29.99, if bought at the time of booking the flight, rising to £23.99 to £35.99 if buying after booking or at the airport gate.
The airline also offers a 20kg checked in suitcase, which costs between £28.99 and £59.99 each way, depending on the flight.
If you buy a check-in bag at the airport, this costs between £49.99 and £59.99 each way.
Other check-in rules include bikes, ranging from £60 to £75 each way, musical instruments, ranging from £50 to £65 each way, and sports equipment, ranging from £35 to £40.
Any checked in child equipment will also incur costs at £15 at the time of booking and £25 post booking.
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