Ryanair is known for its low-cost flights, but the cost does start to add up if you want to take extra luggage, select your seat or enjoy food and drinks onboard. So when flying with Ryanair for the first time I was keen to keep costs low – but I found that one additional extra is more than worth the price.
Ryanair’s free hand luggage allowance is not known for being lenient, with just one small bag per person measuring a maximum of 40 x 20x 25cm.
Passengers who exceed this limit could face paying up to £46.00 at the gate to check their bag in – which could end up being more than you paid for your seat. Going away for a long weekend, I knew this wasn’t going to be enough for me.
That’s where Priority comes in. Ryanair’s Priority Boarding package not only includes priority boarding, but along with a small personal bag passengers can also take an additional 10kg bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm. This means an extra allowance big enough for a wheelie bag – perfect for a long weekend or even a week away if you are a strategic packer.
Given that it only cost me £10 when I booked in advance, the spend was certainly worth it. However, you should note that leaving things until the last minute will cost substantially more.
In some cases you may be required to check your bag in at the airport check-in or at the desk should you turn up with a large cabin bag that you haven’t paid for. While a 10kg check-in bag costs between £11.99 and £29.99 in advance, at the airport you could be spending anywhere between £23.99 and £35.99.
Ryanair does offer other additional extras, such as paying for your seat or extra legroom. However, unless you’re travelling with little ones or are a nervous flyer, I don’t think these fees are worth it – you’ll get to spend your entire holiday with your travel companion.
If you do want to pay for a specific seat, then make sure to book it in advance. Choosing a standard seat will cost between £4.50 and £15.50 depending on the flight you take. Extra leg room seats come at an added premium – between £11 and £33 per flight. Similarly, front seats (usually on row two) are between £7 and £12 per flight, while mandatory family seating costs between £6 and £10 per flight.
All Ryanair fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag, but this can only measure up to 40 x 20 x 25cm and must fit under the seat in front of you. Anything more than that and you’ll have to pay extra.
Passengers can pay for Priority which entitles them to board via the Priority boarding queue at the gate, plus take one small personal bag measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm and a 10kg bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm.
If you wish to check in a bag, you can add a 10kg or 20kg check-in bag to your booking which must be dropped off at the check-in desk before security. Both come at an additional cost.
