Please explain airlines and baggage to me?

[Fattabby]

I'm a middle aged mum with very little overseas travel experience (never holidayed abroad growing up, not travelled much as an adult). I'm actually embarrassed by how little I have travelled abroad. It's been partly lack of money, DP hasn't wanted to go, and the last few years have meant a lot of illness/disability for me, so it's not been on the cards.

Now I'm in good health, I want to go away with my two young teen DC. They are very keen to go. I'm aiming for a short stay, 4-5 nights, somewhere beachy and very touristy in Spain/Portugal etc. Just for starters, and then maybe something more adventurous later in the year. It can't be a full week, which is frustrating, due to commitments it would take too long to explain.

I'm looking at booking flights - from Bristol - and am so confused about baggage allowances, what is permitted as carry on luggage, and and scared about getting it wrong. It looks like different airlines have different rules? But I could in theory book an Easyjet flight, and we'd have legit size luggage - then book a Ryan air return, and none of it would be allowed? I also can't tell if passengers are allowed a sort of bum bag/tiny cross body bag type thing, for passports and not much else, PLUS a carry on bag, or if everything has to be in the carry on bag?

The questions I have about holidays are all so basic I am embarrassed to ask friends, who are all pretty well travelled. Does the bag have to be rigid? If it is 'squashy' will it still fit in those frame measuring things? I'll be travelling on my own with the kids. The only thing I've managed to do so far is make sure we all have up to date passports (they all have years left on them and are pristine. Passports not kids).

Any help welcome. Please be kind. I know this sounds pathetic. I have looked online at airline info but find it very confusing. They seem not to tell you anything in a simple way until you start booking it, and then everything costs extra. That's another question - do I need to book seats? we would all like to sit together, as none of us are experienced travellers. TIA

This thread has reminded me why i generally book package holidays!! 99% of people seem to take suitcases, and the system is totally geared up for it

I honestly think they make the bag prices up as they go along, just roll a dice and show it to each customer, probably some kind of algorithm. I booked Ryanair recently and did add a suitcase and there was an option for 10kg or 20kg checked (yes that means hold) bags or 10kg cabin bag, I ignored the cabin bag option entirely but it wasn't that much of a price difference at all to the point it was a no brainer to go for the checked bag esp as there are 5 of us. However I wanted to decide later about how much actual luggage to take but had a feeling they hike the prices up for this. I checked their own FAQ and price list, and while yes it was clear there that it's cheapest to add baggage when booking the actual flight, not add it to the booking later, even the prices they listed here made absolutely no sense and didn't match any of the prices they were showing me at booking.

They make it deliberately confusing to try and stress you into paying for things you don't need. It's really crap and I wouldn't use them if they weren't the only airline flying where we need to go. It does help to do dry runs but do them on incognito mode and/or delete your browser cookies and cache after this because otherwise they know you've been viewing and raise the price for you. And don't use the Paypal option, only ever book using a card, ideally a credit card as it has the most consumer protection.

You're right about all that Bertie, it's called confusion marketing and it's a thing. See also coffee shops and places like Subway where it's not clear what's included in the stated price and what's a chargeable extra.

As I rarely want to pay for seats together as you often get it for free anyway or it's only me or DP, I always ignore the first Ryanair bundle offer,which is presented as a discount but for many including things you don't want.

Then it's often cheaper to put a bag in the hold than take it in the cabin, which I prefer as it frees you from the liquids limits, dragging the bag around the airport and through security then fighting for space in the locker.

Then if you book a flight starting in a country with a different currency to your own, they convert the price with a shitty exchange rate, so you have to go digging to remove the conversion and pay the price you were quoted at the beginning.

And all that's before you have to refuse insurance, in flight catering and all other sorts of random nonsense you don't want.

OP, holiday insurance. You mention health issues previously , have you looked at holiday insurance yet?

Also I just looked at Jet2holidays ( using their app ), there was 160ish 5 night holidays, half board, flying from Bristol to Mallorca/Majorca on Sunday 29th March.

each passenger gets a 22kg suitcase in the hold and 10kg bag to take on board.
transfers to/from the resorts included.

Book Jet2 or TUI, the main package holiday carriers. You can book the exact number of nights you want. If you are in any doubt about baggage you can call them. Jet2 have a generous check-in allowance. So you can sling everything in there and just take a rucksack/ shoulder bag on the flight. If you go and buy cabin cases buy ones that fit the dimensions of the meanest airline....Ryanair I am looking at you!!

Pay for one suitcase to go in the hold and take small bags into the cabin. You don't need the stress of trying to cram everything into hand luggage on your first trip.

We went to Krakow for 5 in December and had an under seat cheap squashy rucksack each. I practiced packing my stuff in it before we went, using zip top free bags and squashing the air out. We also paid for 1 cabin bag but found that the contents were really not essential or even used. Was surprising how little was needed it’s about having fun, new experiences and being together. Have a practice packing session.