The budget airline Ryanair recently introduced a change to its luggage policy. Passengers are now being given a larger under-seat cabin bag allowance for free. This means they can now take a bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm on board with them at no extra cost.
The new limit replaces the previous restriction of 40 × 25 × 20 cm and gives you around 20% more volume overall. This means you can look forward to using a little more packing space without having to pay for priority boarding or similar additional expenses.
Let’s take a look at the reasons why these changes are happening, how you can make the most of them, and which bags currently available from Cabin Max will help you take advantage of the new limits.
Why Have Ryanair Changed the Rules?
It’s possible that Ryanair have brought in these changes as a response to growing pressure from the public and politicians, though they haven’t said exactly why they have raised allowances. The changes have come at a time when the EU is moving further towards standardising cabin baggage allowances across all member airlines. Passengers have also been complaining about the way airlines have been able to set their own size rules for years and taking to social media to express their grievances about this.
These different limits have caused problems including confusion, extra hassle at check-in and additional fees. A bag that fits under the seat on one airline can be too tall for another, whilst a bag deemed to be “small” by one airline may have been too large for Ryanair’s previous restrictions.
Ryanair is part of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) trade group, which has now agreed on a minimum personal item size of 40 × 30 × 15 cm. The new Ryanair limit actually exceeds the minimum depth by 5 cm.
There could be even better news for passengers further down the line. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been considering new laws that would let passengers take two pieces of cabin baggage for free. One may be a personal item and the other could be a larger bag with total dimensions of 100 cm and a weight of 7 kg. If the law passes, this could change the way low-cost airlines charge their customers. These airlines tend to make a big portion of their profits from luggage fees.
Competitor Pressure
Pressure from competitors is another factor that has influenced these changes. Some of Ryanair’s competitors have been allowing passengers to take a 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag for free, with easyJet’s small cabin bags measuring up to 45 × 36 × 20 cm. These changes should help Ryanair meet their competitor’s allowances more closely and also reduce stress and confusion for travellers who use multiple airlines during their journeys.
EU Consumer Protection and Past Legal Rulings
There has been growing pressure on lawmakers to standardise free baggage allowances for many years. As far back as 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled that airlines must not charge for “reasonable” hand luggage that met requirements on size and weight.
Over the past decade, some EU countries have made their own decisions on airline baggage. Spain recently fined low-cost carriers for charging passengers to take basic cabin bags on board. Ryanair did challenge some of these rulings, but the public pressure to end “hidden charges” has persisted. Some specialists are speculating that Ryanair’s new changes are an attempt to stay ahead of future rule changes and avoid more negative headlines and penalties.
What Does This Change Mean for You?
If you’re a Ryanair customer, the new 40 × 30 × 20 cm limit could make your travels much less stressful. The extra 5cm of width will give you more room for clothing, toiletries or electronics. This could mean fitting in an extra pair of shoes or adding a laptop to your bag without squashing the other contents.
The new changes can also make multi-airline trips less stressful. If you're travelling to your destination via Ryanair and coming back via another airline, you may be able to use the same bag without either airline rejecting it. This also means you don’t need to replace smaller bags. If you already have a bag that fits the previous limits, you can still use it. However, you can replace it and go larger if you want to.
You do still need to watch out for other rules. The new rules won’t mean you have access to overhead lockers unless you pay for priority boarding. You will still have to pay gate fees if you’re using an oversized bag.
How to Make the Most of the New Size
Take a look at your current bag. If the bag is close to 40 × 20 × 25 cm, you may get 5 cm more width without having to buy a new one. Soft-sided bags may work better for some people too, as they can flex a little to fit the under-seat space, unlike harder cases. With a harder bag, you might face rejection even if it’s just a centimetre too big. It’s also wise to pack vertically. You can use the entire 20 cm depth of your bag by stacking rolled clothes and using packing cubes.
You also need to think about comfort. You may have a little less legroom if you have a slightly bigger bag, so make sure you get the right balance between capacity and comfort.
How We Can Help
At Cabin Max, we’ve been designing, manufacturing, and supplying bags for budget airline restrictions for many years. We have plenty of options that fit Ryanair’s increased size limit of 40 × 30 × 20 cm. This is one of the many reasons why we’re still such a popular choice for those who want to maximise space without being charged extra by their airline.
Here are some of our finest models to suit the new size limits:
Cabin Max Manhattan 24L Under-Seat Cabin Bag
At 40 × 30 × 20 cm, this under-seat cabin bag is perfect for meeting the new hand luggage allowances on Ryanair and other airlines. It has a 24 L capacity, large suitcase-style opening, padded backpack straps, luggage strap, side bottle holder, and compartments including a rear laptop sleeve for devices up to 13″. The bag is practical and made from durable twill polyester with faux suede. It comes with a 3-year warranty for manufacturing faults.
Cabin Max Anode 24L Twinwheel Under-Seat Case
The Anode 24L TwinWheel is a lightweight 40 × 30 × 20 cm cabin case which is perfect for Ryanair and many other budget airlines. It weighs just 1.5 kg and comes with a spacious interior with packing straps, a zipped divider, plus a pocket for accessories. Made from durable ABS with strong coil zips, it features smooth twin wheels and a 3-stage telescopic handle that extends to 95 cm.
Find the full Cabinmax 40x30x20cm range here
Why Our Bags Are So Suitable for Low-Cost Flying
At Cabin Max, we design our bags with specific airline size restrictions in mind. This helps you avoid being told your bag is too big at the airport. We offer long-lasting lightweight models with multiple compartments that make organisation easy and ensure you’re making the most of the space you have.
Our bags and cases are built to withstand frequent travel. We have been a key part of the luggage industry for almost 20 years and have a rich understanding of passenger needs, always working as hard as possible to meet them.
Are these Rules Likely to Change Again?
These more generous allowances could just be the start if the EU’s proposed passenger rights laws come into force. If they do pass, larger cabin bags could become the standard and overhead locker access may be included in basic fares. It’s also possible that there could be more focus on weight limits instead of size restrictions.
It’s also worth remembering that low-cost airline ticket prices could rise to compensate for the loss in luggage revenue.
Even if the proposed new laws don’t pass, there’s a general trend towards more generous free baggage rules underway. There is more anger amongst the public about hidden costs, and social media has made it easier for people to voice their frustrations with airline rules, resulting in more bad publicity for certain carriers
Need Help Finding the Right Bag for You?
If you are looking for perfectly-sized cabin bags and need advice on finding the right model for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can reach us by using the live chat facility on our website or by sending a message to info@CabinMax.com. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible so you can swiftly get hold of the right hand luggage solution.