Ryanair will no longer allow small hand luggage free of charge

Cheap airline Ryanair will no longer let passengers take a small suitcase on its planes for free. Reason for the new policy is to avoid delays at the airport gates, Ryanair claims. The planned charges of around 6 euros for a 10kg suitcase to be introduced in November.

The airline overhauled its baggage policy as recently as January but said the current scheme, which allows people to hand in their smaller cases for loading in the hold for free at the boarding gate, was still causing delays.

With the new policy, passengers will have to pay £6 if they also want to take a 10kg bag, such as a pull-along suitcase, on board.

They’ll still have to pay up to £10 if they want to check that bag into the hold instead.

The move is not aimed at making money, the airline said , but was intended to “improve punctuality and reduce boarding gate delays”.

Under the new policy only 95 passengers per flight – around half of the total – will be permitted to pay for the right to take the extra bag on board.

Other travellers will have to pay £8 to £10 for their 10kg bag to go into the hold. Larger checked-in luggage will still cost £25 per bag.

Overhead locker space has failed to match demand, with an increasing number of passengers adapting their packing habits to escape baggage charges on budget carriers.

Passengers will still be allowed to carry on one small bag that can fit under a seat in front, free of charge.

A limited number of passengers who book priority boarding – which costs £6 or €6 per flight – will be able to take on a small case as hand luggage.

The airline said most of its customers would be unaffected by the bag policy change, saying that 30% already buy priority boarding and another 30% already travel with only one small carry-on bag.

Ryanair said the change would be revenue neutral, as many people would switch to checking in a cheaper, smaller suitcase, and was aimed purely at reducing delays to flights caused by too much luggage at the boarding gate.

Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, said: “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.” [bbc, guardian]

Internet users commented on Ryanair policy change like this:

So #Ryanair have reduced their free cabin baggage to one 20l bag like a handbag or laptop bag…

Challenge accepted pic.twitter.com/bjRj8fubZX

— Alex Hawley (@alexhawley10) August 24, 2018

Breaking News: #Ryanair to allow only 'thin' 'naked' passengers to fly … anyone wishing to wear underwear will be charged a fee 'knicker boarding tax'

— Steve Downes Author (@writer_s_downes) August 24, 2018

#Ryanair So new baggage charge and rules are based on avoiding delays which according to your fanfare on landings are nearly non-existent! #LostAnotherCustomer
Why not be honest and say it’s to pay for your underpaid pilots and crews whilst keeping big bonus’s for your exec’s! pic.twitter.com/B185xgtKuP

— Richard (@gozzers71) August 24, 2018

I don’t know but Rynair and other airlines may have to pay higher airport fees depending on the time they hang at the gates.

PS As I hate luggage packing, my dream was always to go somewhere/anywhere with just my small hand bag with credit card, ID, mobile, cigarettes, tooth brush and chewing gums. Rynaiar will make it possible, now.