Ryanair marked July the 1st as a day to increase hold luggage charges, targeting holidaymakers choosing to fly over the summer time. Ryanair have increased their one way baggage prices to £20 from their initial £15 during July and August. Online checking in fees have also seen a rise, failing to declare your bag online will see the fee rise to £40 from £35 each way at the airport.
Research by travelsupermarket.com based on 12 of the UK’s and Ireland’s popular airlines, has shown Ryanair to have the lowest allowance of only 15kgs, which is 8kg less than British Airways. This isn’t exactly value for money during the more popular holiday season, therefore try and avoid the hold luggage hikes if possible and fly with hand luggage only.
The noteworthy launch of Ryanairs “Approved Samsonite Cabin Bag” scheme, priced at £69 (€79) is designed to encourage people to only use hand luggage for their travels. And with a generous 10kg limit, this option is quite attractive, just be sure to opt out of the bag selection online to avoid the risk of ordering one by mistake, as its part of the main booking procedure.
Try and beat this summers baggage rip off and follow these top tips for packing your hand luggage:
1.Pack only what you are going to need – Be strict, cut out any items that you aren’t likely to use or that you could do without.
2.Be aware of your limits – Stay within the dimensions and weights set by the airline. They will be looking for any baggage that is over and they will charge for you to book them in.
3.Ensure you buy the right bag – Soft, no frame bags allow you to compress it to fit the luggage gauges.
4.Make full use of your pockets – Put what you can in your trouser, jacket and coat pockets, try putting the heaviest items in to reduce the stress on your bag limit. Wear this to get past check in and then you can put them back in your bag afterwards.
5.Your packing techniques – Use a variety of methods to maximise the space in your bag, including bundling, folding and rolling.
6.Toiletries – Use smaller transparent containers filled from your larger bottles. Remember there is a limit of 100ml to be presented in a clear bag to security and a limit of 1 litre in bottles.
7.Gadgets – Be vigilant in what gadgets you take with you, and try and take a universal device to keep you entertained. A number of devices will need chargers, which add some weight to your limit. Minimise the guides you take and if you can get a digital guide on your gadget, or print out the most important pages from the original. Try carrying books and magazines in your hands during check in.
8.Avoid pooling hand luggage – The majority of airlines won’t allow this, and every bag has to be below the limit set by the company.
9.Your clothes – Pack your light clothes and wear all your heavy gear, be sure to remember this for your flight home too.
10.Airport shops – Be careful what you buy, ensure your duty free bargains don’t take you over the limit and end up costing you an extra £35 in luggage fees.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, has said: “What we take on holiday is sometimes as important as where we go particularly if you have a family. And where you go obviously has a huge impact on what needs to be packed. Baggage is a huge factor for Ryanair which is constantly trying to encourage passengers to travel light by levying ever increasing exorbitant baggage charges. Many of these passengers have no option but Ryanair on their chosen departure point or destination and these summer rises are a cynical stab into the family budget.
As for the approved cabin bag, it will be interesting to see whether this is the thin edge of a future ploy to buy Ryanair approved hand baggage or pay for the privilege of taking your own hand luggage at inflated rates. There are many other bag options available on the market that fit the dimensions allowed on board and at a fraction of the price Ryanair are charging for their ‘approved’ bag. The bag does not represent great value for money and whilst it may be ‘approved’, if it goes over 10kg it will be placed in the hold and an eye watering fee of £35 will be prised from you for the privilege.”
Airlines and their baggage allowances:
Hand luggage Top Ten*
= 1 easyJet
= 1 British Airways
3 bmi
= 4 Aer Lingus
= 4 Ryanair
= 4 Jet2
7 Monarch
8 bmibaby
9 Flybe
10 Virgin Atlantic
11 Thomson (Flight only)
12 Thomas Cook (Flight only)
Hold luggage Top Ten*
=1 British Airways
= 1 Virgin Atlantic
3 BMI
4 Jet 2
5 Thomson
6 flybe
7 easyJet
8 Monarch
9 Aer Lingus
10 Thomas Cook
11 bmibaby
12 Ryanair
Hand luggage allowances
| Rank | Airline | Hand luggage weight allowance | Hand Baggage size | Volume cm squared |
| =1 | easyJet | No limit but must be able to lift into the overhead locker unaided. | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 63000 |
| =1 | British Airways | No limit but must be able to lift into the overhead locker unaided. Pax may take one bag plus either a handbag or a laptop bag | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 63000 |
| 3 | bmi | No limit but must be able to lift into the overhead locker unaided. Pax may take one bag plus either a handbag or a laptop bag | 55cm x 40cm x 23cm | 50600 |
| =4 | Aer Lingus | 10kg | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 63000 |
| =4 | Ryanair | 10 kg in one bag | 55cm x 40cm x 20cm | 63000 |
| =4 | Jet2 | 10 kg in one bag | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 63000 |
| 7 | Monarch | 10 kg | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 56000 |
| 8 | bmibaby | 10 kg | 55cm x 40cm x 20cm | 44000 |
| 9 | Flybe | 10 kg | 50cm x 35cm x 23cm | 40250 |
| 10 | Virgin Atlantic | One piece up to 6kg plus a handbag | 56cm x 36cm x 23cm | 46368 |
| 11 | Thomson (Flight Only) | 5 kg | 55cm x 40cm x 20cm | 44000 |
| 12 | Thomas Cook (Flight only) | 5 kg | 43cm x 28cm x 23cm | 27692 |
Hold luggage allowances
| Rank | Airline | Economy Bag Allowance 1 bag | Cost of 1 bag Pre-booked | Max Number of Hold Bags allowed | Pooling of Hold Bag Allowance allowed? |
| =1 | British Airways | 23kg | FREE | Varies by route – minimum is one bag. Maximum is 5 – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| =1 | Virgin Atlantic | 23kg | FREE | Varies by route – minimum is one bag. Maximum is 5 – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| 3 | BMI | 20kg | FREE | Unlimited – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| 4 | Jet 2 | 22kg | from £7.99 to £15.99 one way – varies by route | Up to 3 per passenger – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| 5 | Thomson | 20kg | from £8 to £15 one way – varies by route | 5 per passenger – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | Yes |
| 6 | Flybe | 20kg | £8.99 one way | Up to 3 per passenger – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| 7 | easyJet | 20kg | £9 one way | Up to 8 per passenger – different charges apply for 2ns and extra bags | No |
| 8 | Monarch | 20kg | £9.99 to £15.99 one way varies by route | Up to 5 per passenger – different charges apply for 2nd and extra bags | Yes |
| 9 | Aer Lingus | 20kg | £10 or £12 each way | 3 bas up to the 20kg limit | No |
| 10 | Thomas Cook | 20kg | Short haul £10 one way Long haul £17.50 one way | 1 per passenger | No |
| 11 | BMI baby | 18kg | from £12.99 to £14.99 one way – varies by route | Up to 5 per passenger for the 18kg weight limit | Yes (up to 18kg per person) |
| 12 | Ryanair | 15kg | £15 one way (apart from July and August 2010 – £20 one way) N.B.You can also book a bag to weigh up to 20kg – cost £25 one way – £30 July – August | Up to 2 per passenger. 2nd bag costs more | No |
* Comparing 12 popular airlines
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