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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

re Ryanair baggage allowance?

44 replies

popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 11:39

DS and DD are off to Spain next week to stay with friends. They are travelling with ryanair as it's the most convenient route for us. To save the hassle of baggage reclaim (fear of stressed kids, lost baggage etc) I was planning on just giving them each a small wheelie suitcase to carry on board. They are only staying for 6 days and will only need a few swimsuits, pairs of shorts etc!
However, I've just measured my two cases, one is fine but the other, despite being exactly the same size inside, has a bigger frame so comes up at 56.5cm tall.
Ryanair specify 55cm as max height. Other airlines all 56cm -grrrr!

I think that I'm going to have to buy another suitcase that doesn't exceed 55cm. Annoying as we've had so much to shell out this summer already but I'm not a risk taker.

DH, however, thinks it's perfectly reasonable to send them off to the airport with the case and cross fingers it gets on! (Weight is within limits)
If they decide to enforce the height rule however, it will cost us €50.

Thoughts? Experiences?

OP posts:
AlpacaLypse · 13/07/2014 11:40

How old are they? You do know Ryanair won't take un-accompanied under 16's?

LastTango · 13/07/2014 11:42

Don't chance it. They WILL penalise you. Your DH is stupid Smile

NorbertDentressangle · 13/07/2014 11:44

Buy a new bag, honestly it's not worth the hassle.

When we've flown Ryanair we've seen people who have obviously got through check-in OK with their bags later being pulled to one side as they are about to climb the steps to the plane and have their bags checked in the 'frame' thing they use.

GaryTheTankEngine · 13/07/2014 11:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oriunda · 13/07/2014 11:47

Ryanair have relaxed considerably the last few months. Negative publicity/reduced profits has seen them advertise on tv for the first time, and more importantly, relaxed their baggage rules. You can now take a trolley case plus a small handbag/rucksack. I didn't notice anyone having their bags weighed/measured the last few trips I've done with them. They seem to be under instructions to play nice. Doesn't mean you won't get caught though, but I'd be more inclined to take the risk that I would previously.

JoeyMaynardsghost · 13/07/2014 11:49

If they do get asked to put the case in the frame advise them to put it in upside down as a lot of those cases are marginally narrower at the top and it should slide in.

drivinmecrazy · 13/07/2014 11:50

I flew back from Spain last week with hand luggage, and was enraged when our hand luggage was labelled to put in the hold. We were told that now only the first 90 passengers on board are guaranteed their luggage in the cabin. Fortunately, we did manage to keep hold of a rucksack that had all the necessary paraphernalia to keep a fidgeting 8 year old busy during the flight (which curiously is now 25 minutes longer than it ever has been)
I am flying the same route again next week, and am really concerned because my DD will have her laptop, ipod and camera equipment in her hand luggage and there is no way on earth I would trust ryainair with her case, after numerous suitcases being damaged in the past.
I wonder if it is a way to persuade people to continue to pay for priority boarding to guarantee you are one of the chosen 90, now that there is allocated seating on all flights.
Your DC are not flying to Murcia are they? Because ryanair staff at Murcia airport have always continued to amaze me with their inflexibility and harshness

skittycat · 13/07/2014 11:56

I came back on a Ryanair flight on wednesday… no checks at all done on the sizes or weights of the bags that I saw. We were also one of the last to board the aeroplane and still managed to get our luggage safely stowed in the overhead lockers rather than being sent to be put in the hold.

If I were you I would pick up a new suitcase/bag that fits the requirements anyway - they don't have to be expensive or flashy.

ajandjjmum · 13/07/2014 11:56

My suitcase was marginally wider that the width specified, but slightly squashable! I popped into the airport the day before we flew (easy as we were staying over), and checked that it fit into their frame. With a bit of encouragement, it did! It was never checked again.

We also got in the queue to board early, rather than hang on until the last minute as I normally do, to ensure that we would be able to keep our bags with us. Might be worth telling your DC to do that OP - I shall be telling DD to get in the queue asap when she travels this month.

Have to say, it wasn't as awful as it has been in the past - but then again, the prices aren't as low either!

Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 11:56

They are 14 and 12 but are not flying unaccompanied. Their friends' mum will be with them but she will not have any luggage to be checked in.

No, not Murcia, thanks for the heads up!

The case isn't too wide, just a tiny bit too long with the wheels (which seem to be welded on and impossible to remove!!) It would slide into the frame but if it really is just 55cm, it will stick out by half an inch. I wouldn't be worried if it was any other airline!

OP posts:
AlpacaLypse · 13/07/2014 12:00

Phew! It's just that a close friend lost £150 by failing to read the terms and conditions before buying his fifteen year old dd a ticket last summer. She'd flown unaccompanied on easyjet a couple of times that year already and he assumed they all had the same rules. (easyjet is 14+)

whois · 13/07/2014 12:04

I'd buy or borrow a case for them that fits into the Ryanair size - they frequently do check every single bag on the way through the gate.

HappyGirlNow · 13/07/2014 12:06

I just flew to Bologna and back with Ryanair and surprisingly (considering their reputation) they didn't even look at anyone's hand luggage either way... And I had bought a new cabin case as the one we had was a couple of centimetres too long!

I'd probably say chance it and if there's an issue, the money you've saved on a new case can go towards the fine...

TidyDancer · 13/07/2014 12:06

You will probably be fine but I'm not sure I'd take the chance.

I've flown Ryanair lots over the years and have never had any of the problems people talk about. They are actually ime no worse than any other airline for their checks.

Bearbehind · 13/07/2014 12:08

I wouldn't risk it. I'm not sure if it's an urban myth but I have heard the bag checking thing at the gate is smaller than even their guidelines in order to force you to put it in the hold.

Can you manage to pack enough liquids in a carry on case?

Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 12:14

Bearbehind -I hadn't even thought of liquids!! Better check allowances and send some extra cash to buy sun cream and shower gel over there. They'll be fine borrowing toothpaste and stuff from the Spanish family so should be ok.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 13/07/2014 12:15

I wouldn't risk it. My case is the right dimensions but I still break into a sweat at the bloody gate. The woman in front of me on an EJ flight out of Almeria got pulled at the gate and hers was visibly no different to mine.

I don't think Ryanair will go any less leniently because they're kids, and your friend could get whacked with the hold fee.

Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 12:17

Sounds like it's a v small risk then but I'm going to:

  1. Measure DS's sports bag as it's squishier so could be ok!
  2. Ask FIL if he can hack off the wheel frame without totally destroying the case
  3. If all else fails, pop out for a cheap replacement case :-(
OP posts:
Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 12:19

My kids have French passports and are travelling Paris-Barcelona then Girona-Birmingham!
Without parents.

I've been so preoccupied with getting the right paperwork, I hadn't anticipated luggage dramas!!

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 13/07/2014 12:22

these are cheap as chips

Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 12:32

Wow, bargain. Not sure if amazon.co.uk will deliver to me in France. Will check amazon.fr but I bet they're much more expensive...

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 13/07/2014 12:41

Ryan Air used to link to this item as the perfect size - we have one and it is huge inside - plenty of room for 6 days and ticks all the measurement requirements.

www.amazon.co.uk/Cabin-Max-Backpack-Approved-55x40x20/dp/B002Q5APX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405251559&sr=8-1&keywords=cabin+max

redexpat · 13/07/2014 13:53

Re: the bags. Plastic shoppers with zipped tops are much lighter than suitcases, usually exactly the same measurements as ryanairs handluggage.

I think it was BMI with the smaller boxes in the airport, because I remember thinking - oh wow, a story about bad airlines are, and it's not ryanair! Grin

Re paperwork: Did you know that there's a template letter giving permission for minors to travel with people who arent their parents right here on MN in the travel section? I found it last night. Bloody marvellous stuff by MN methinks Smile

Original poster
popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 15:09

I didn't know that redexpat. I've done my own letter (they also have official French docs, passports, ID cards etc) but I'll check mine against the mumsnet one, in case I missed anything!

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 13/07/2014 15:20

I panicked about this last year and was obsessive about the size of the bags. They didn't check any in the end despite seeing loads of people with obviously bigger bags and/or more than one bag. And the cage at the airport seemed much bigger as well - no squashing required at all. And this was before they'd relaxed a bit. I bet they'd be absolutely fine but depends how relaxed you could be about that

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