Ryanair baggage rules for family where only 1 20kg checked in bag is needed

[Cleanmean]

Me and dh have been looking into this all day. We have never travelled ryanair so please accept our apologies from the outset for asking the dumbest questions.

We are a family of 4, we want to book 1 x 10kg and 1 x 20kg checked in bags. On the website when booking the flights it only gives us the option for priority which allocates us ALL 4 x 10kg cabin bags, or family plus which is 4 x 10kg checked in and 1 x 20kg checked in. We don't want to pay for 4 x 10kg checked in, only 1.

We need 1 x 10kg and 1 x 20kg between 4 of us, then obviously our small hand luggage bags which are free.

How can we book 1 x 10kg and 1 x 20kg without having to buy everyone checked in bags? I've read the rules on their website and lots of other forums but when it comes to booking I can't see the option to only pay for the bags we need to take. Any advice?

Should we just buy the value fare then buy one 20kg bag and 1 x 10kg bag separately? Is this possible? And is it now expensive one we've bought flights?

I'm happy to pay for priority as I think it means we can choose seats, but we really don't want 4 x 10kg bags.

They intentionally make it difficult, if you select value fare for all, then at the next stage where they ask about adding bags you can select a bag per person- one 10kg,1 20kg ( or no bags for two of your party).

You can also choose seats without paying for priority at a later step in the booking process

I'm not an expert, but I think it's because you're travelling with children - Ryanair insist you pay for allocated seating if you have children in your party (as, by law, they have to sit next to a responsible adult). Ryanair lump in allocated seating with cabin bags (or 10kg checked in, I think). Could you not go for three 10kg bags, and avoid the 20kg hold luggage?

Thank you! I'll try and go through the booking process further to see what options come up. Honestly, it's made me want to cancel the whole trip! We only want hold luggage to be able to pack toiletries so offering cabin luggage is pointless for us as we can't take full size toiletries onto the plane.

I’ve never flown Ryan Air but when I fly with DH and we only want to take one bag I just do 2 separate bookings. So in your situation I’d book one adult with all the children, and book the other adult separately - I would add the bag to their booking.

Surely you can use 3 x 10kg bags and therefore not paymore

Is there a reason why you only want to use 1 x 10kg and 1x 20kg?

We just book the normal fare then add whatever bags we want to take. We fly Ryanair as a family a few times a year as our family live abroad. We’re currently staying with my in laws abroad; we flew over as a family of 5 and brought 2 x 20kg cases and our standard small hand luggage.

With Ryanair it’s actually easy once you’ve done it once - book all of you on the same booking. Chose value fares. Click through to proceed. Then you have the option later in the booking process to chose bags individually per person. Add 1 small hand luggage each (free) 1 10kg (usually £10-20 per flight) and 1 20kg (usually £20-35 per flight). Exact costs depend on flight destination so I can’t give exact figures but it’s rarely more expensive to do it this way than upgrading the fare at the start. If kids are under a certain age you will also have to pay c. £6-8 per adult to sit next to the child (their seat is free).

Select the cheapest (I.e. no luggage) option and you can add hold bags a page or two later. Be aware that the free hand luggage allocation is now quite meagre - only small backpack size (though in practise I find they aren't that strict so long as it looks like you can stuff it under the seat in front of you).

We could opt for 3x 10kg bags but tbh we don't have bags that size, so I'd have to fork out for new bags because ryanair are strict with their sizes. It's just easier for us to take 1 x 20kg and then an extra 10kg in case. I'll look into 3 x 10kg as we do have some large rucksacks that can hold 10kg so that might be an option.

Just keep going through the booking process and it’s there as an option later - and cheaper than the everyone having one they try to push as the super discounted rate early on.

Yes you can definitely do different bags per person later in the process.

Hi!

I would like to ask re: checkin baggage for ryan air. Dead husband purchased 10kg luggage for our holiday, he just realised we need more than that. Can we add additional 10kg luggage to make it 20kg and use one luggage all together?

I am going to assume that is a typo and he is not reassessing your luggage needs via a clairvoyant
Anyway, I don't think you can add 2 x 10kg together to make a 20kg with Ryan air so I think you will need to book another or see if you can cancel the 10 and book a 20 instead

We always take one bag for all of us, just ignore all their attempts at upselling as others have said and eventually it lets you add things for individual passengers. The price of checked luggage seems to vary (or maybe that's just me) depending on how close to departure you are. Also if the kids are 11 or under, they get free seats reservations, but then the system automatically adds £10 (I think) per journey to the booking cost for an adult seat reservation, there is no avoiding this unless your kids are older. I usually pay for all of us to have seat reservations anyway.

I believe the 10kg hold luggage must be correct dimensions NOT a rucksack.
20kg can be any dimensions.

If only booking hold luggage for toiletries, you can purchase at boots in the airport. They actually do click and collect at some airport boots too to get exactly what you need.

Sorry its supposed to be dear husband. 🙈

Ryanair insist you pay for allocated seating if you have children in your party (as, by law, they have to sit next to a responsible adult

Yes Ryanair have that policy but rightly or wrongly there is no such requirement under UK law.