Has anyone flown with Ryanair recently? What is the baggage like?

[PremiumPony]

My partner booked tickets with Ryanair. He went with the basic package and that says one small bag only. He didn't pick any checked luggage or priority boarding. He picked the most basic package.

With one small bag only policy it gives the dimensions and it's 40×25×20 cm or something like that.

I was considering buying a luggage bag but I think I will meet this with a backpack I have.

I have another issue now. Will Ryan air allow a handbag as well as 'one small bag only' or is the handbag supposed to fit the criteria. I won't be able to travel without my handbag. I will need my handbag to hold my phone, wallet, passport, boarding passes, travel bands, ear plugs, book. My partner can travel filling his pockets up. I'm not able to travel like that. My clothes done have pockets either.

I'm really going to struggle with one small bag only for a weekend.

Just in case I am not allowed a handbag:

I wonder would it be possible to get a crossover body bag and wear it over my shoulder and wear it short with my jacket over it. Would I be able to smuggle a handbag on my body like that along with a backpack of stuff.

Why don't you just add a 10kg bag onto your flight booking between you?

Staff at the gate in krakow recently were checking and I saw about 2/3 people being charged for additional luggage

I got a bag similar to the one linked above and with wearing my heavier clothes for travelling, managed to get everything in that I needed.
it’s easier if going to a warm destination with lighter clothing

I always take a thin crossbody bag as well as an under-the-seat one and have never been questioned. The trick is not to take the piss - as long as the bag looks small enough to go in the bigger bag they're not bothered. Too busy looking at bags with wheels on that would never go under a seat! We're going to Malaga at the end of the month for 4 nights and will wear lots of layers, rinse out socks in hotel if necessary and buy most toiletries in Spanish supermarket.

Much as I will never fly with Ryanair, how much extra would it cost to add the extra bag? Compared with what you are spending for the weekend.

Next trip, your partner and you should discuss things in more detail before any booking is made, lesson learnt.

I have this bag. I haven't used it for a flight yet, just car trips, but it's an excellent bag. It was free from Temu if I spent £40.

They absolutely won't let you away with an extra bag and will charge extortionate pricing for the hold. What we do is pay to go priority boarding - it gives you the 10kg carry on + personal item and is cheaper than just adding baggage.

Flying with ryanair in a few weeks. I just upgraded to “large cabin bag” which allows a wheely suitcase to avoid hassle. You can do this at any time up to departure
the free cabin bag is very very small yet there are plenty on here who’ve done a fortnight in Tenerife with just that- power to them!

Indeed sharing a bag is usually the best option for short trips

You can log in and add a carry on bag.

But in terms of trying to get round the problem: there's no checking in at the airport so the only interaction you'll have with ryanair is at the gate. (As long as you remember to check in online in advance to avoid another fine).

I've got away with an extra bag in the form of my handbag before but it was a teeny tiny flat cross body which is just more convenient to store phone, passport etc in. I could have packed it into my rucksack if required.

I came back on Ryanair yesterday from Spain and I saw a woman with three bags on the flight and wondered how she’d managed that. You can upgrade to get a small wheelie as hand luggage although fitting it in the overhead lockers is a pain these days. I think it depends on the staff tbh. I’m a light packer and would struggle with just a backpack for four days.

This is what we do.

I've been stopped at boarding and made to prove my handbag fits into my carry on. It did, just about with a squeeze 🙄

They were also making us all squeeze our carry on into those metal thingies to prove they would fit in the space.

If I was flying short haul regularly 100% I would invest in one of those vests.

Somebody should invent one that zips into a reasonably stylish handbag, they'd make a fortune!

The duty free bag needs to also be able to fit into your carry on unfortunately. They're wise to those sorts of things, and intent on squeezing every penny out of your that they can.

They can be quite strict. I got caught out once because my bag was the correct size but I’d overstuffed it so it didn’t fit the holder. I had to stand there putting stuff in my DH’s suitcase to make it fit.

You can still add a checked bag to your booking. Don’t forget you have to be careful with things like liquids if flying with hand luggage only.

They're very strict at the gates when boarding.

The attendants will call you out of the queue and make you prove that your handbag will fit into your cabin bag. Happened to me a couple times.

Last month I flew with them and saw a family with matching baggage pulled out of the queue because their cabin bags were too big.

But a hold bag if you're concerned.

Just use a handbag that will fit easily in your carry-on, and take it out once on board - keep your passport and boarding pass/phone in your hand or a pocket.

As pps have said, RyanAir are very strict and do enforce measurements. I’ve seen people who thought they could get away with it, finding out the hard way at the gate. It’s not worth the hassle.

I’ve worn a jacket over a perfectly adequate jumper for boarding, to save space in the carry-on. There are ways and means!

There's no check in desk as you check in online. The first time you'll see Ryanair staff is when you board. They may check the bag then. I never get extra luggage option and have never been challenged but the carry in bag is absolutely tiny now. If you are filling a soft bag with soft stuff like clothes and not overfilling you will be fine as you can squash it into the luggage check thing. But avoid anything with any shaping or boning as it will risk not fitting. I've always had a separate handbag but my handbag is absolutely tiny. It is the width of a large hands and basically fits my phone, passport and wallet keys and nothing much else. So if I was challenged I'd be able to stuff into the backpack.
If it's really stressing you, you can add another bag either now through manage my booking or at check-in.

"They absolutely won't let you away with an extra bag and will charge extortionate pricing for the hold."

As many people have said, this is not usually true. Me and the kids always take an extra small cross body bag or bum bag and we travel regularly. So far, so good.

"The duty free bag needs to also be able to fit into your carry on unfortunately."

Nonsense. The airports would lose an absolute fortune 😆. You can safely ignore this OP. It's even outlined on the various airports websites. I've attached one from the first airport that sprung to mind but bloody hell. Can you imagine if you had to squeeze all your airport shopping in to your handbag? Nobody would shop!

It's often more of a problem on the return flight - we were flying with Jet2, but were watching numerous rows breaking out with Ryanair charging passengers extra at the gates, and said passengers saying they were allowed exactly the same luggage in the way out.
Personally, I'd add a small case for you to share, although I did go to La Rochelle for a week with just a backpack 😁

I'm also wondering why your clothes don't have pockets? Surely your coat does? And trousers/jeans?

I'd just pay for an extra carry on bag. It's roulette, as lots of people above say, you might get away with it. But I've also been on plenty of flights where they won't let you on without fitting your handbag in your carry on, and then making you prove it fits in the metal box. If it doesn't fit they charge an arm and a leg.

Get him to add a bag, either bigger hand luggage or a hold bag.

Any airside purchases need to fit in your "under seat" sized bag, or your pockets too.

You might well get away with the cross body bag under clothing so long as everything goes under your seat but most airports are a bit warm so keeping jacket zipped up will be uncomfortable in the queue.

OMG the absolute stress of worrying about the size of an under seat bag, and whether or not a cross body bag will also be allowed , and will you be challenged, and etc. etc. is so not worth it for the sake of £40 or so to bring a hefty 10kg on board for the overhead.

OP, please relax, enjoy your trip and pay for a 10kg bag. Then you can also bring your original hand luggage for under the seat as well. Chances are you may find something lovely that you want to buy but with just the small bag that's not going to happen.

Do yourself a favour and pay for a bag. You will look forward to the trip so much if you do. If you don't, you will be stressed out of your head!

So we did 4days / 3 nights in Germany last week on ryanair using the luggage allowance you have. I also travel regularly to Spain in similar scenario.

Going out from UK they were making everyone frame check their bags - this was at the boarding gate - nothing is checked before then (other than security who don't care about your bag size/number.)

If you bag was larger but squashable into the frame it was fine - however hard cases and overstuffed bags were rejected. Lots of folks taking the piss on baggage sizes. Saw one woman trying to claim a full sized suit carrier - which had several 'suits' in it was a small handbag... as well as her handbag. Anything oversized was offered hold space at £70? A bag.

I travel with a small bum bag which takes my passport and phone. Dd has a slightly larger one which takes her purse too neither have been stopped, second bags as full handbags however are stopped.

We have rucksacks like the one posted above. I packed 1 jumper, 1 pair trousers, enough underwear and socks and long sleeved tshirts for 1 each day, 1 pair pj's and 1 set of base layers (Germany is cold currently!) In addition I had an EU charger, minimal toiletries and a book. My bag was full... but not bursting! I then carried my big coat, with hat, gloves and scarf in my pockets and wore a heavy jumperas well as a second base layer top so I could rinse them and dry overnight.

As much as ryanair do like to charge it was evident this week that the limits are about storage space. The small bag fits under the seat in front of you - everyone except exit rows have this space. If it's too big it is in your way and that of the rest of your row - or it goes in the overhead bin which is 'paid for' space for priority bags - and there isn't enough space for everyone seat to have a priority space.

I'd say try packing your bag, culling your packing and trying again... if its a one off trip I'd buy the hold luggage space and stop stressing, if its aimed to be a more regular thing then I'd buy the rucksack (plenty on amazon etc) and force your brain to make it work - its definately a mind set change!

I have one of these bags for Ryanair travel. With packing cubes you can get a lot more in than you think. It also has a separate front section that works for passports, wallet, phone etc...

I think you should just pay to check in a bag. Save yourself all this stress.

We flew with Ryanair in Sept 2 adults and a baby. We checked in 1 large suit case. Then I had a backpack and DH had the baby changing bag.

The backpack was my old school bag, which I used to a trip around S.E. Asia for 5 weeks (granted the clothes I needed were very light!) with cubes to make the most of your space I think you'd fit it all in. Have a small cross over bag that can go into the school bag before boarding.

We also didn't wait long at either end to get our checked bag