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.

Depends which airport you fly from.. leeds l had my cross body bag as well as my carry on.. everything okay.. Manchester l was told to put it in my carry on . So don't risk it.
You can add a small check in case of 10kg even though you have already booked seats etc it's not too late.

Is the stress of walking around the airport sweating as you have all your layers on, and having to empty every pocket at security, really worth it? Just log into booking, buy an overhead extra hand luggage and enjoy long weekend

By the time you’ve bought a more suitable bag, would it not be better to pay extra for one piece of hold luggage? How much is it? It’s been years since I’ve flown with Ryanair but admittedly they are grabby as hell!

Another great way is.. buy something in duty free and get a duty free carrier bag and pop your handbag in that.. because you are allowed a duty free bag as well as your carry on bag.. done this loads when I've bought hairspray etc at duty free boots.

How do you bring the stuff back with you, though?

I’ve got one of the rucksack style ones linked previously. I’ve used it for 3 nights in cold weather and 5 nights in hot weather. It’s got a few good zipped pockets in the front bit so I found it fine for passports, purse and bits and pieces. I put some of my liquids in my kids bags (same bags) otherwise I would’ve struggled with the liquid allowance. And that was with decanting things into tiny pots.

Presumably by buying another hairspray on the way back?

A lot depends where you fly from and who is working on the day. I go from Bournemouth and they seem a bit more relaxed there when we've travelled.

OP buy something from the duty free in the airport and make sure you pay for the carrier bag. It can just be water but buy the plastic bag from the airport. They will have to let you through with the extra bag with the purchase. In any case you can place there your things but don’t do it in front of them.

Otherwise carry your jacket in your arm with your purse in between so that they don’t see it.

Hopefully nobody from Ryanair is reading this.

You're allowed to take a shopping bag on board. Buy something in WH Smith's/ boots/ duty free etc and put your handbag in it.

Last few times I flew I took a handbag expecting to be told to put in to my bigger bag (there was room) but no one stopped me or noticed. Perhaps wear a crossbody handbag under your coat.

The filthy terrorist that I am trying to smuggle a handbag on a plane.

I did a practice pack yesterday in a backpack that has Ryanair's dimensions. I can fit three three, leggings, socks and underwear and other little bits. Going for 4 days. I can pack for 4 days using the packpack.

My clothes don't have pockets because I wear leggings. My jacket has pockets but that's useless.

The only thing I am struggling with is a hand bag. I will go to Primark at the weekend and see what they have. I will have to get a fabric style bag because my handbags are leather. I will need a smaller wallet too.

I bought some compression bags from Amazon but they are not vacuum or pump compression bags. They are meant for travel and it's roll up compression bags. I am hoping I will be able to make more space in my backpack with the compression bags.

I've always found Ryanair firm but fair (not as strict as Norwegian Air, but definitely not a rule I'd push).

But I'm an ultra-light packer and feel comfortable with the limits. E.g. I'm going for a week in cold weather to Denmark & Sweden and can fit everything in the under-seat bag (I use a simple stuff sack like you'd put your sleeping bag in, but with an attached cross-body strap).

If you are AT ALL unsure, pay for the extra luggage. I've seen way too many people think they can sneak just a little extra onboard and end up in all kinds of bother.

"The filthy terrorist that I am trying to smuggle a handbag on a plane."

Eh? It's about space that's all.

If you only wear leggings then surely to fuck you can fit them in a backpack 😅. Do you not wear coats or jackets? It's easy, as pp said, buy a bottle of water and a carrier bag at WHSmith airside and bung your handbag in there

Can you put the things you'd normally have in your handbag in a small zip pouch (A5 size). Get the kindle app on your phone instead of a book. Then just give it to your DH to stuff in a pocket at boarding - he did the booking without consulting you so he can jolly well work out how to carry this for you? Or buy your book at WH Smiths.....

If you have prescription medicines to bring with you. Go on to Ryanairs chat service. They will ask you for a list of the medication, the size of the bag and the weight combined.
I have always used my handbag for this, and usually have space for my purse/passport in there too.
I've never been stopped and asked to show the allowance letter they give you to allow you to carry an extra bag.
But I suppose if I were stopped I would have to ensure i had the space in my backpack to put my purse/passport so my medicine bag was solely medicines.

When I fly Ryan air I always have an onboard rucksack and a small cross body bag under my jacket . However - this is on the plane as I also have check in luggage so there is space enough in my rucksack should I be asked to put my cross body bag in there .

I would completely struggle with just the rucksack if it was for more than one night .

You won't be going to the check in desk if you only have one board luggage . It's at the gate that they will challenge . Regarding toiletries - most accommodation provides soap/shampoo etc but you could always buy when you get there and just leave behind .

Or as others suggest - add a 10 kg bag to your booking now .

I used the Tik Tok bag from Amazon for 4 nights away and it was plenty of space. I was asked to put my cross body bag in it, which was fine I knew it had space. Bought toiletries when I got there. This was LGW to Dublin.

I find them much less strict than they used to be.

If you really want to be carry a second bag on, you could put it inside a duty free plastic bag. Anything bought from the duty free after going through security is allowed on board.

Or you could do what I have previously done and unpack a bag and layer up like Heidi until it fits in the metal frame. (I don't think they really use anymore unless you are absolutely taking the piss).

I travel frequently with easyJet and Ryan air and use one of those cabin max backpacks linked earlier, have gone away for a week in the sun with just that tbh.

I tend to use a small crossbody bag as well for phone wallet and passport etc. use a small wallet for cards rather than my usual one.

Cabin max bags are awesome. As are Ecohub for under seat only. Put the dimensions of bag you want into Amazon search

This one is great for weekend only

Deal of the day: ECOHUB Ryanair Cabin Bag 40x20x25 Underseat Travel Bag 13 Pockets Hand Luggage Backpack Recycled PET Eco Friendly Rucksack for Women & Men Carry on Bag with USB Port, 20L, Patented, Black amzn.eu/d/aU2Kv4s

Look for Travel Tips by Laurie on YouTube. She's great for carry on only tips

I very often board with a small crossbody bag or bumbag slung over one shoulder, but underneath my coat, and usually with my scarf folded over that side and my carryon backpack on the same shoulder to disguise it a bit never had a problem. It’s genuinely small: wallet, phone, passport usually. I do try and make sure that it will fit in my larger bag if necessary.

Otherwise the duty free bag is a good option. Did it recently when transporting back some Christmas gifts, mostly food items like tins of sweets. Security don’t care as long as it’s not a dangerous or prohibited object, it’s not their role to police bags. So we carried through the stuff in a bag, then once airside bought something small from one of the airport shops, asked for a shop bag, and put the gifts in there. Done. Just make sure to ask for a bag in the airport shop if they don’t have them out. And remember that purchasing some items will mean the bag is sealed, like alcohol, so it’d be useless for this purpose!