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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Just how strict are ryanair with hand luggage?

50 replies

secretcbeebiesfan · 27/06/2014 23:04

Basically that ^?

I have a rucksack which I bought from ebay that said it was the right measurements for Ryanair but now I have measured it with everything stuffed in and it seems slightly bigger?! Would it be okay if I print off proof where I got the bag from saying Ryanair approved?

OP posts:

FragglerockAmpersand · 28/06/2014 10:11

My hand luggage (one of those pull-along cases that are supposed to be designed to fit into the overhead locker) was too big on a return flight recently - wouldn't fit in the little guage thing. They put it on the hold for me for free, which surprised me enormously.

LePetitPont · 28/06/2014 10:22

We flew Ryan air in February. As PP have said, they seem to have been working on their customer experience. Best thing = allocated seating, not the mad free for all!

Your rucksack may work better than a suitcase as you can stuff under your seat rather than the cabin baggage locker. I went for a hold all and a small handbag and had no issues.

I recently flew jet 2 and despite my suitcase being the right measurement, they got in a snit over weight.

clam · 28/06/2014 10:24

I flew back from Venice a few weeks ago and the staff at the gate were refusing to allow a kids' toy train track (in a box) through. They said it could go in the hold at a cost of ??Euros. My friend offered him a carrier bag, and he ripped open the box and put all the train track bits and pieces in and was allowed through.
Flight was full, and they made pretty much all of the end portion of the boarding queue put their hand luggage in the hold.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 28/06/2014 10:31

I fly with them about 8 times a year and it is very hit and miss. Sometimes they let stuff through, sometimes they go through everything with a fine toothcomb and patrol the queues at the gate with a set of scales.

It depends on how full the flight is, and (IMO) whether they like you on first impressions. I have, like fraggle, had a lovely lady who said my hand luggage was way too heavy (It was) but she'd check it in for free. In the same queue she had people unpacking stuff and was sending them off to buy bags which she then charged them to check in.

I would never risk it with Ryanair because you just never know how theya re going to be on the day tbh.

Original poster

secretcbeebiesfan · 28/06/2014 11:00

Thanks again for the replies. It is interesting seeing how different they are! I am flying from Bristol if that makes any difference?! I am flying today anyway so I will be back later to update you all!

OP posts:

Runwayqueen · 28/06/2014 11:12

I flew from bristol, with Ryanair. They were fine

ForalltheSaints · 28/06/2014 11:24

I am sorry to read that you are flying with Ryanair. I hope your next flight is with an airline with a chief executive who is not a nasty bully.

ajandjjmum · 28/06/2014 11:32

We flew Luton to Kerry rtn a few weeks ago, and weren't weighed or measured, although everything was in order anyway.

They do seem to be trying to improve their image - and not before time. Having paid £200 each for flights to Tenerife in August, they're certainly not the 'cheap as chips' airline I thought.

HonoraryOctonaut · 28/06/2014 11:35

I flew RyanAir last month. We had no problems with hand luggage, I took a small case, a big changing bag and a handbag on with me. They put the suitcase in the hold on the way back for free. First time I've flown with them and I was really impressed especially as ds4 threw up the whole time

We were stopped on the way back as ds3 had a brightly coloured water pistol, flashing lights etc, they took that from him, it was in his hand, not in a bag as I didn't want all the alarms going off when the shape flashed up on the scanner!

BertieBotts · 28/06/2014 11:41

They have a metal cage thing that you have to fit your bag into. If it has to be squashed in that is fine.

Theas18 · 28/06/2014 11:48

We've got suitcases that are the right size ( though I guess they migh bulge if you stuffed them) and never had a problem. The new handbag thing means you can put heavy stuff in you handbag! ( and the dimensions are generous if a bit " cuboid" so check if you are pushing the limits eg my Cath kidston messenger bag is too tall).

However we have seen peopke checked and rejected and also, the hope fully now defunct trick of allowing duty free as extra on the way out but not on the way back ( so you thrn have o fit 1.5l of spirits in your bag- and even it is siol go the extra weight renders you over!)

Trillions · 28/06/2014 12:16

Yeah, just print off some random thing someone wrote on eBay and you'll be grand. You might want to print this thread as well for added credibility you muppet

RhondaJean · 28/06/2014 12:22

W flew Glasgow to Dublin and back with them this week.

No one looked at the bags at all in either direction.

People were bringing on suitcases that I could have used to pack for a family holiday for four.

First time I've flown with them for a while and it was a bit of a shock. Previously they've checked everything to the last millimetre. They o ly guarantee 90 bags in the cabin and lots of hand luggage got tagged to go into the hold for free.

Original poster

secretcbeebiesfan · 28/06/2014 12:27

Okay I feel less stressed now. Is there anywhere to measure bag before going through security?

Trillions there is no need to be sarcastic. It was a genuine question. I don't fly much but when I do I never normally need as much stuff as today. It was only a suggestion of what I could do.

OP posts:

redexpat · 28/06/2014 13:46

They have boxes around the airport - if your bag can fit in then youre good to go. I've been on some flights where people have huge cases, yet at Stansted where they have all the gates at the end of one wing, they sometimes have an army of blue and yellow ryanair employees checking the wieght and size of everyones bags before they allow them through to their gate.

clam · 28/06/2014 14:29

Last summer, when I flew to Croatia with WizzAir they stated on their website that there were two different sets of dimension to consider for hand luggage. The first was slightly smaller, and guaranteed free in the cabin. The other, slightly larger (and matching the dimensions given by Ryanair and Easyjet), was to be charged for (£35) and could go in the cabin if room. Their staff patrolled down the queue at the boarding stage, taking 35 quid off anyone who'd mis-read the (very badly-phrased) guidelines.
But their flight was substantially cheaper, even than Easyjet, so as always, you get what you pay for and you make your choice at point of booking. If you follow the rules, you can get a bargain.

Original poster

secretcbeebiesfan · 11/08/2014 13:06

Just to update... I flew a total of 3 times on my trip (all with Ryanair) and my bag was fine! Even though it needed to be squished to fit in! I must admit though, on my first flight I was scared because they charged a few people but on closer inspection...the people really were taking the p**s because they were trying to fit suitcases on that were way bigger than the allowed dimensions! My other two flights were so relaxed (they were abroad though)

OP posts:

mosaicone · 11/08/2014 15:03

I am packing to fly ryanair tomorrow and been going mad over it all day. I bought my son a gorgeous case that when I measured last night I thought would be just ok - on going back into the shop today and reading the actual measurements I think its slightly too deep - fine height and width... but having flown with them loads of times before I think it would be fine but darent risk it!!
Sadly I had no choice of airline for where Im flying and cost reasons. Its just a good job we are staying with family so we can wash our clothes as we'd never have managed 9 days on hand luggage.
I bet when I measure them there tomorrow theyll be well under, I do it all the time, but Im so worried about extra charges.

FreckledLeopard · 11/08/2014 15:06

I flew with them last month and they appear to be more relaxed over the dimensions of the cases but remain strict on weight. But now you can at least take a bag and a handbag with you, so a lot easier to travel.

Osmiornica · 11/08/2014 15:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chocolatemartini · 11/08/2014 15:10

We had to pay £35 I think for a bag that had wheels about 2mm over the allowance. Strangely, dh's swearing at them about about the stupidity of this had no effect. This was about 6 years ago, happy to hear they may have relaxed a bit.

mosaicone · 11/08/2014 15:13

I need to weigh mine. Im stuck in spain with 2 young kids and my parents for 9 days, I NEED my laptop for the evenings. Ive packed hardly anything, and its very hot so fingers crossed Ill be ok.... always nerve wracking flying with them!

AllHailTheBigPurpleOne · 11/08/2014 16:27

Flew a few years ago back when you weren't allowed hand luggage and a bag. I hid my coat over my handbag as it wouldn't fit in my hand luggage and snuck it through. Also my hand luggage was a tiny bit too big, especially when full to bursting, but I carried it on fine.

frankie001 · 11/08/2014 16:49

I'm flying back from Sweden this evening. Coming out nothing weighed or measured. Am hoping it will be the same going back as I have a suitcase full of Plopp bars!
The pre allocated seating ia great, but there were atill arguments and faffing about by people who ignored it.

JeanBodel · 11/08/2014 16:53

On a related note, can the kids take a Trunki as hand luggage on Ryanair flights, or will the extraneous animal parts cause us problems?

TIA if anyone knows the answer to this!

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