Navigate Ryanair's Hand Luggage Charges And Save Big!
Ryanair’s hand luggage rules ensure that all bags over 40x20x25cm (20 Litres) receive some sort of charge or require some sort of ticket upgrade in order to be taken on board the aircraft.
In this article we’ll take you through the hand luggage rules, tell you how to avoid extra fees and discuss which (if any) of the paid options may be best for you.
In a nutshell:
- The maximum size of carry on bag that you can take on board without paying extra charges is 40x20x25 cm (20L). If you have a 'basic' fare on Ryanair with no add ons, this is your allowance.
- If you wish to take a traditionally sized cabin bag on board (up to 55x40x20 cm), you have to purchase an additional bundle. These bundles are called ‘Priority Boarding and 2 Cabin Bags‘ or the 'Regular' bundle. These options are very similar, offering you an extra hand luggage allowance, plus options to board earlier and choose your preferred seat if you splurge on the 'regular' fare.
- Purchasing the ‘Priority Boarding and 2 Cabin Bags‘ bundle or a 'regular' fare means you can take both a 55x40x20 cm bag and a 40x25x20cm bag on board, but Ryanair will charge you between £6 - £60 per flight to do so.
- The number of ‘Priority Boarding and 2 Cabin Bags‘ tickets is capped at 95 per flight.
- There is no option to take just a 55x40x20cm traditional cabin bag on board.
- Ryanair also offers Plus and Flexi-Plus bundles which include a hold luggage allowance, but these can often increase the price of your flight by over 400% and include a lot of extras that are irrelevant.
Which option is best for me?
We’d always recommend that travellers going on city breaks or short trips under 4 days adapt your packing towards the free bag allowance when travelling on airlines like Ryanair, simply because of the huge savings you can make by avoiding the extra fees.
Ryanair charges differing amounts for the 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' bundle depending on when you add it to your booking. If you add it at the time you book your flights it will cost between £6-£36, but add it at a later date and that price range becomes £20-£60. We've never seen this bundle available for £6 - generally fees tend to be towards the top of the price range that Ryanair states when you come to add it. Generally, we tend to think that the added fare is usually around £22. That means, on average, a couple could save £88 over a typical return trip, simply by travelling lighter and each taking a 20L under seat bag.
20 Litres may not sound like a huge allowance, but Cabin Max’s range of 20L Stowaway bags are incredibly space-efficient and offer so much more packing possibilities than you may expect. Teamed with a few small changes to your packing technique, they can be more than enough. Here’s a few of our best picks to comply with Ryanair’s free allowance:
ISEO 20L
The Iseo Rolltop Backpack is the perfect travel companion for budget-conscious adventurers, especially those flying with Ryanair. Its compact 40x20x25 cm design effortlessly slips under strict Ryanair cabin baggage size limits, saving you from hefty fees. With its versatile design, you can wear it as a backpack or attach it to your rolling luggage for seamless travel. Packed with features like a laptop pocket, water bottle holder, and internal organization, the Iseo keeps your essentials secure and easily accessible.
Crafted from durable and water-resistant 600D RPET polyester, the Iseo is made from recycled plastic bottles, making it an eco-friendly choice. This lightweight material ensures your bag is both sturdy and sustainable. Don't let Ryanair's baggage restrictions spoil your trip – choose the Iseo and travel light, smart, and sustainably.
Travel Hack Stowaway Cabin Backpack
This deceptively spacious laptop backpack is the perfect size for a weekend city break. Designed using travel blogger The Travel Hack's extensive knowledge of stylish travel on a budget, this ingenious backpack features a quick-stash top pocket that provides easy access to your purse, phone and travel documents on the go. Internally, the bag features a 20L main compartment with 3D packing pockets and a tactile rose gold lining. Packing is a breeze, thanks to the usefully large clamshell opening. Ideal for use as a laptop bag the Travel Hack Backpack can accommodate devices up to 13" and is excellent for ensuring your laptop stays with you on board busy flights. An integrated water bottle holder and rolling luggage strap complete an impressive list of standard features.
Equator X 20L
The Equator X 20L is the ultimate cabin bag for savvy travelers. Its innovative suitcase-style opening provides two spacious compartments, making packing and unpacking a breeze. Packing ribbons and zipped pockets keep your belongings organized, while the dedicated tech compartment safely stores devices up to 13 inches. The front organizer pocket is perfect for quick-access items like keys, tickets, and pens.
Designed with frequent travelers in mind, the Equator X offers maximum comfort and convenience. The padded backpack straps and sternum strap ensure comfortable carrying, while the side bottle holder keeps you hydrated. The side carry handle and luggage strap allow for versatile transportation options.
Meeting Ryanair's strict under-seat baggage 40x20x25 cm size requirements, the Equator X helps you avoid hold baggage fees and travel with ease. Crafted from durable, recycled RPET Cordura fabric, this bag is both eco-friendly and built to last.
Metz 20L Stowaway
Cabin Max’s Metz range has been going strong for over 17 years now, offering lightweight simplicity and space for a low price – and this 20L Stowaway version is no different. Key to the Metz’s appeal is the large clamshell opening which allows you to pack it like a suitcase. Side compression straps let you slim the bag down for airline luggage sizers, and there’s also a useful front organiser pocket and padded top carry handle too. With so many reasons to recommend it, we wouldn’t be surprised if we were still singing the Metz’s praises in another 17 years too!
Narvik 20L Rolling Case
The Narvik 2.0 is your secret weapon for Ryanair's under-seat policy. This deceptively spacious 20L wheeled cabin case (40x20x25cm) packs big, thanks to clever features like internal compression and 3D pockets. Its lightweight 1.6kg design glides effortlessly through airports, while hidden organization compartments keep you effortlessly prepared. Padded tech pockets, water bottle holder, and even a secret stash pocket - the Narvik 2.0 thinks of everything.
What about Priority Boarding or a 'Regular' fare?
Let's clear up some confusion here: The 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' bundle and the 'Regular' fare bundle are almost exactly the same. As you would expect, 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' allows you to take both a 40x20x25 cm under seat bag with you, plus a larger case up to 55x40x20cm overhead locker case. It also lets you get on the plane (marginally) before everybody else. The 'Regular' fare is essentially the same, but adds seat selection into the bundle too.
Though it can be expensive, these bundles may be worth it for some travellers and are certainly a better option than paying Ryanair’s extortionate hold bag fees.
The combination of 2 cabin bags allows passengers a potential 64L of packing space, which is more than enough for most long trips - and we would recommend that if you are paying this extra fee, you should try and get the greatest value from it by taking 2 bags.
As mentioned previously, if you are certain that you will be needing the 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' bundle, make sure you buy it at the same time that you book your initial flight, as the prices for it go up to a possible maximum of £60 if you add it to your booking at a later date.
Aside from the additional packing space, there are other reasons to choose this option too. For example, this is the option you should choose if you are travelling with a lithium ion powered laptop or tablet that wouldn’t fit within the dimensions of the 40x25x20cm free small bag as lithium ion batteries are not permitted to be carried in the aircraft hold on Ryanair flights.
It goes without saying that this option will gives the largest luggage allowance without having to check a bag in to the aircraft hold. Travellers who wish to keep their luggage with them on the flight, avoid check in queues or waiting for their case to appear on the baggage carousel may find this valuable.
If you are looking to make the most of the 'Priority Boarding and 2 Cabin Bags' or 'regular' fare bundle, we’d recommend teaming your 40x25x20cm bag with one of these cases:
Anode 40L Cabin Suitcase
The 40L Anode is a great choice for Ryanair’s Priority Boarding allowance. Measuring in at 55x40x20cm and featuring a spacious interior, the Anode 40L lets you charge your mobile devices on the go thanks to its USB port and internal power bank pocket. It also features a combination lock and super strong wheels and handles, making it a great choice for seasoned or novice travellers.
Note: Video above uses the 35L Anode model.
Metz 44L Cabin Backpack
The original version of the Metz Backpack offers a huge amount of space at a very low price and is still one of Europe’s best selling backpacks. Amazingly, this 44L version weighs in at an incredibly lightweight 0.7kg, meaning you can pack to your heart’s content. Available in a myriad of colours, patterns and even variants made from Recycled plastic bottles, the Metz 44L is possibly all the cabin bag you will ever need.
Velocity Expandable Cabin Suitcase
We love the Velocity case because it is such a fantastic all-rounder. Though it can expand by 25%, we recommend using the Velocity in it’s unexpanded form to comply with Ryanair’s Priority Boarding rules. Made from hardwearing ABS and available in a range of subtle or eye-catching colours, the Velocity’s large interior features a zipped divider and netted pockets so you can organise your packing effectively. It’s a great choice for Ryanair’s Priority Boarding allowance.
Travel Hack Pro Cabin Case
Travellers love the Travel Hack Cabin Case because it’s spacious, stylish and features a unique hand bag storage compartment. Amazingly, some airlines (we’re looking at you, easyJet) will count even the smallest hand bag as ‘luggage’ and then try to charge you for bringing one on board in addition to your usual carry on! The Travel Hack’s dedicated hand bag compartment lets you store it away and avoid those extra charges. This case is also the ideal size for Ryanair’s Priority Boarding allowance and features niceties such as a MacBook compartment, water bottle holder and Rose Gold detailing. What’s not to love?
So there you go…
Hopefully we’ve given you a few ideas on how you can keep your money in your pocket when travelling on Ryanair. Show us how you get on swerving their hand luggage fees by tagging us on Instagram during your next trip. Happy travels!