Ryanair passengers caught out by luggage fees despite ‘approved’ bags – here’s the pre-flight check you should make

AIRLINES will often make extra money by charging passengers to bring extra luggage on board the plane.

Holiday costs can dramatically increase if hand luggage is deemed oversized, meaning it has exceeded the baggage restrictions set out by the airline.

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Passengers should use one simple trick to avoid hefty fees at the boarding gate (stock image)[/caption]

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Passengers should measure their luggage before arriving at the airport (stock image)[/caption]

In recent weeks and months, several passengers have been forced to pay hefty fees after their bags were deemed too large by boarding gate staff.

Earlier this week, one passenger revealed she was made to pay £70 on her Ryanair flight because her hand luggage was “too deep” for the baggage size checker.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote: “Anyone else been charged at the boarding gate by Ryanair for a paid for cabin bag being ‘oversized’?

“I was told my case (bought because it claimed to be overhead locker compliant) was too deep and they made me pay £70 at Leeds-Bradford on Thursday.”

Her post was accompanied by a photo showing her mint green suitcase jutting out mere centimetres when placed in the baggage size checker.

This isn’t the first time a passenger has been asked to pay for their luggage because it was deemed too large for the airline’s requirements.

In 2023, one woman was told she would have to pay an extra $99 (£81) because her bag was too big for the cabin.

In a video, which was posted on TikTok, she was able to prove airport staff wrong by easily slotting her bag into the size checkers, showing that it was clearly within the limits.

Other passengers have previously taken drastic measures to avoid having to pay for their bigger bags.

For example, a group of easyJet customers were seen snapping the wheels off their cases to make sure they fit the airline’s sizes.

USE THIS PRE-FLIGHT CHECK

To avoid these hefty fees and the stress at the boarding gate, holidaymakers can use one simple trick to make sure their luggage adheres to the restrictions laid out by the airline.

Even though luggage companies may advertise bags as being compliant for overhead lockers, this may not be the case.

This is because airlines have different requirements, so a bag that’s suitable for a British Airways flight might be too large for Ryanair -even if the difference is only a few centimetres.

Passengers who want to make sure their luggage is compliant before arriving at the airport should use a measuring tape to measure their bags.

Suitcases with wheels should be measured from top to bottom, with the wheels included.

Passengers should also make sure they measure the depth of their suitcase too, as this often gets forgotten.

Aim to add on an extra inch to your measurements, so you have a little bit of leeway when you’re at the airport.

Any passenger who has ordered brand-new luggage for their summer getaway that claims to be compliant with airline restrictions, should also be measured – just in case it is a fraction too large.

If your bag is too big for the restrictions laid out by the airline your travelling with, then you have time to return the luggage before your trip.

And if you’re shopping for luggage at a shop or supermarket, take your measuring tape with you.

This is so you can make sure your luggage is compliant before purchasing.

Passengers who are travelling with just an underseat bag, like I often do, should also pack a measuring tape with them.

I use my measuring tape when I’m packing for my return flight, just to make sure my rucksack isn’t too deep or tall.

If it is a little too large, I’ll unpack items like my book or tablet, or an extra layer of clothing, to decrease the size of my bag, so it adheres to the requirements.

By carrying on these items, it simply looks like I am getting ready for my flight rather than being cheeky with the limits.

For Brits worrying about their hand luggage for upcoming flights, here are all the rules for the most popular budget airlines in the UK.

Ryanair

All Ryanair passengers are allowed to bring a small personal bag on board, but it must fit under the seat in front.

Passengers can pay to bring a larger cabin bag onboard, which must be no bigger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and weigh no more than 10kg.

EasyJet

Each person is allowed to bring a small cabin bag on board.

It can be no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including any handles or wheels.

Jet2

Jet2 passengers can also bring a small piece of hand luggage on board free of charge.

Those bags must not weigh more than 10kg and can’t be any bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including any wheels and handles.

Holidaymakers can also bring a small, personal, item onboard, such as a handbag, laptop bag or airport purchase.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air passengers can take one small cabin bag for free onto the plane.

Passengers can pay to bring a larger cabin bag onto their flight, which must be no bigger than 55cm x 40cm x 23 cm and weigh no more than 10kg.

Meanwhile, travellers love this bag that they claim prevents them from having to pay for hand luggage.

And this woman revealed a hack to get extra hand luggage on a flight.

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Airlines all have different hand luggage requirements, making it difficult for passengers to know if their bags adhere to airline rules (stock image)[/caption]