Ryanair has updated its baggage policy as part of its “Always Getting Better” program. The airline has lowered fees for checked bags and increased the size limits to encourage more passengers to check in their bags, aiming to reduce the number of people bringing two bags to the boarding gates. This change stems from an issue where too many passengers were utilizing the two free carry-on bags service, leading to insufficient overhead cabin space and causing boarding and flight delays.
As Europe’s leading airline, Ryanair operates over 1,600 daily flights from 72 bases, linking 189 destinations across 30 countries. They have a fleet of more than 300 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Recently, Ryanair has placed firm orders for an additional 280 new Boeing 737 aircraft and options for 100 more Boeing 737 MAX 200s. This expansion will help them lower fares and increase annual traffic from 90 million to over 150 million by 2024. Ryanair employs over 9,500 skilled aviation professionals and boasts a 30-year safety record.
To address the issue of too many carry-on bags, Ryanair has implemented the following changes to their bag policy:
– The check-in bag allowance has increased from 15kg to 20kg for all bags.
– The standard check-in bag fee has been reduced from €/£35 to €/£25 for a 20kg bag.
– Starting January 15, 2018, only Priority Boarding customers (including Plus, Flexi Plus, and Family Plus) will be allowed to bring two carry-on bags on board.
– Non-priority customers can bring one smaller carry-on bag on board, while their second, larger wheelie bag will need to be placed in the hold free of charge at the boarding gate.
These changes are intended to speed up the boarding process and eliminate flight delays, enhancing the overall passenger experience. Priority Boarding can be purchased for €/£5 at the time of booking or added to a booking later for €/£6 up to two hours before departure on the Ryanair website and 30 minutes before departure on the Ryanair app.