Ryanair changes baggage rules again this year – to “reduce delays”

Today, (Thursday 1st November) Ryanair’s new bag policy comes into play. This means that from now on, if you wish to take on more than a small bag, you have to pay extra.

Any hand luggage – which means a small bag no more than 10kg in weight – will be allowed only when priority boarding fee of £6/€6 has been paid at the time of the initial booking. If you forgo that and have a change of heart later you can pay £8/€8 either online or via the Ryanair app.

You can organise this at the gate, but you will be charged £25.00.

Non-priority passengers can now take on a small bag, 40% larger than previously allowed at 40x20x25cm, but it must fit under the seat in front. It can’t go in the overhead locker.

Why have Ryanair done this?

The airline claims the changes will reduce flight delays.

Since January, Ryanair put a policy in place where passengers with a second larger bag have to take them to the gate where they are tagged and put in the hold. It was hoped this would relieve delays caused by people struggling to find space for their luggage in overhead lockers. This hasn’t worked as up 120 bags need to be tagged at gates for each flight which is time consuming.

Ryanair says that the new measure should “speed up boarding”. The airline claims that they do not “expect to make more money”.