Cabin Bag Rules: Ryanair shifts their sizes

Our CEO, Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, shares her take on what this change really means for travellers and why a consistent, industry-wide approach is long overdue.

For many travellers, hand-luggage sizes can be confusing. Get it wrong, and you could face extortionate fees and lose your bag to the hold cabin. But as the summer getaway season kicks off, Ryanair are increasing the size of their free under-seat cabin allowance. 

This move follows pressure from the EU to standardise cabin baggage rules across airlines but while Ryanair’s update is a step in the right direction, multiple airlines with multiple luggage sizes can still cause frustration when travelling, and the threat of extra charges for bags that don’t fit remains very real. 

Our CEO, Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, shares her take on what this change really means for travellers and why a consistent, industry-wide approach is long overdue: 

“Ryanair has promptly responded to the European Union's proposed legislation aimed at abolishing cabin baggage fees by increasing its carry-on under seat, personal bag allowance by 20% at no extra cost, but it’s worth bearing in mind even with this increased size, the allowance still remains smaller than the under seat bag for other low -cost carriers. 

Whilst this change is particularly welcomed for travellers, as they can now potentially pack everything they need in their carry-on, avoiding the need for checked baggage and paid for carry on fees altogether, the dreaded anticipation of fear when arriving at the airport remains the reality, and what we now need to see is all airlines adopting similar policies to make travel planning simpler for everyone. 

With each airline having different baggage size rules, this can make packing a bit of a puzzle. Nobody wants the stress of discovering their bag is too big at the airport. Our advice to travellers therefore – business and leisure - would always be to double-check baggage policies with your airline or travel agent before you pack. 

These baggage improvements, along with some airports finally starting to drop the 100ml liquid rule, demonstrate that the travel industry alongside government is working to take away the pain points for travellers. And while we're heading in the right direction, having consistent rules across all airlines and airports would certainly help to make everyone's journey much smoother. 

With travel rules changing regularly, a good travel agent can be invaluable. They stay on top of all the latest updates and can help ensure you're never caught out by unexpected changes, making your trip planning stress-free from start to finish.” 

Booking with a Travel agent matters now more than ever with new rules, restrictions and rising fees. You agent is your go-to expert for navigating everything from VISAs to hidden costs and last-minute changes. For those considering a trip to the US, click here to find your nearest travel agency. 

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