Ryanair, Europe's Biggest Airline, Increases Free Cabin Bag Allowance

Forbes

11 hours ago

Ireland-based Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, has announced it will be increasing its free cabin baggage allowance for travelers. This refers specifically to the free personal item such as a handbag or laptop case to be placed below the seat in front of you rather than the full-size carry-on reserved for overhead bins.
Ryanair carries more passengers around Europe than any other airline. getty
'Over the coming weeks' it will increase its free carry-on bag from 40 x 25 x 20cm (15.7 x 9.8 x 7.9 inches) to 40 x 30 x 20 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches). That extra five centimeters may not sound like much, but it increases the overall bag volume from 20 liters to 24 liters—enough to make a difference, especially for a quick business trip or weekend getaway.
Ryanair is yet to announce a date for the change, as it waits to adjust its dreaded airport bag sizers at gates around Europe. Airline trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) has confirmed Ryanair, alongside all its member airlines, will have the new measurement rules in place by the end of the 2025 summer season.
This new standardized approach comes following an agreement among several European airlines to adopt a new minimum size for free cabin baggage. The incredibly convoluted and varied minimum bag limits across different airlines have been the bane of low-cost European travel since carry-on charges were first introduced in 2005 by the now-defunct Flybe airline.
Known to be ruthlessly enforced by budget airlines, classic passenger mistakes such as not including wheels and handles in measurements can result in eye-watering extra charges—often far higher than the original ticket price for the flight.
Ryanair baggage sizers, ubiquitous at airports across Europe and the cause of many a customer meltdown. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The regulation follows a vote last month by members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to mandate all airlines to allow passengers to take two pieces of carry-on baggage into the cabin. The European Parliament described taking two bags on board as 'a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.'
It's a move major low-cost carriers from Ryanair to easyJet have described as unworkable. By setting an agreed standardized minimum free baggage size, they're hoping it may encourage officials not to impose the two two-bag limit.
Most of Europe's low-cost airlines are strongly against the EU mandate to allow two carry-on bags on every flight. Getty Images
Interestingly, that newly standardized minimum size of 40 x 30 x 15cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches) is less than Ryanair's stated new minimum size. Aligning with the minimum dimensions would have meant Ryanair actually reducing its free size volume by 10%. Instead, it means anyone currently using a Ryanair-compatible personal bag will be able to continue to do so.
Almost all other carriers already have bag size allowances well over the newly standardized minimum.