Ryanair is going to change its hand luggage policy effective from January 15 by reducing the number of free bags passengers can carry with them in the cabin.
Currently, the airline allows passengers to take two bags, one small (35cm x 20cm x 20cm) and one large (55cm x 40cm x 20cm), on flights as carry-on. While passengers can still carry two bags for free, the larger of these will be put in the hold as standard when they reach the boarding gate. Only those passengers who can pay for the Priority Boarding of £5 and more will be allowed to carry both the bags onboard.
In a statement by Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kenny Jacobs, he said the airline is taking this step to avoid boarding delays. “All Ryanair customers will still be free to bring two free carry-on bags but because of our heavily booked flights (94 per cent load factors), we don’t have space on board for this many wheelie bags so we will ask non-priority customers to put their bigger bag in the hold – free of charge – from Monday 15 January in order to eliminate boarding delays and improve our industry leading on-time departures. These changes will cost Ryanair up to €50m pa so we hope our customers will enjoy and welcome them.”
For frequent flyers, this move might not be much effective as the overhead lockers can only accommodate a finite number of bags and passengers were told their large bag would have to be stored in the hold instead.
The airline, in its new policy is also lowering check-in bag fees from £35 to £25 per bag, while upping the baggage allowance for paid-for check-in bags from 15kg to 20kg.
