Ryanair have really ramped up charging people for bags that "don't fit"

Thanks for the heads up, bought the OH a "cabin sized" piece of luggage the other day, and to my naked eye, it appeared bigger than what I'd expect you'd be allowed on a flight. Must get the measuring tape out.

But wouldn't surprise me that this is only an issue with Ryanair at present. Went on holiday last summer and couldn't believe the size of cases people were being allowed to bring on board. Also didn't see anyone having their cases measured. That was with Aer Lingus tbf.

I wonder do they pick on people who have an attitude? last time I flew the bag was bursting but they didnt charge me extra.

Bring a bag that fits.

Problem solved.

Delete

Cairns' runway is very close to the minimum length for a max-laden 737. If you've ever flown Easyjet to the isle of man (for example) you'll see that one airline's limit is different to anothers.

For the people saying "just bring the right sized bag", this is the point. You can have the right sized bag which bulges slightly when it's full, but would go back to its right size if squeezed into a space. It's very sneaky to be charging for this. I wonder if there's anything in their T&C's that explicitly says you can't squeeze it in?

I've also heard of people being charged because their handles stick out of the bag measuring device!

Fair enough rules are rules, technically I’d say my bag was maybe 2 inches too wide. As I said I, managed to squeeze it in but obviously they’ve become much stricter on it.
My main issue is the total arbitrary nature of it. If they are going to enforce it they should ask everyone in the queue to place their hand luggage in the measuring box rather than picking out a few random bags at the end of the queue.
Obviously, they won’t do that as it would delay their turnaround time. But it’s not fair to pick out 3 random passengers when they’ve already let other passengers through with bigger bags.

Different airlines have different cabin bag size requirements, you wouldn't usually have to bring your measuring tape because the size would be given on the tag when buying the bag or details given online, it's gets a bit tricker though when the bag manufacturer doesn't include the wheels in their measurements and it won't fit in the sizer

Most websites that are selling cabin bags and carry on bags now list the airlines that accept their specific size

The other one to watch out for is Aer Lingus if you're flying to UK it's a much smaller bag that's allowed as they're usually prop planes with exception of Heathrow

I travel a lot and agree with OP that this is massively on the increase, and while i agree some people are dickheads that will push the rules beyond what's reasonable, ryanair are not playing fair a lot of the time

It's often cheaper to check a 10kg bag in with them than to carry it on so if I have to fly ryanair I do that but always check the return airport to make sure they've self service bag drop

If you bought a bag that meets the criteria and then it bulges it no longer meets the criteria.

The size of the bags allowed is clear on the website and every interaction you have with them and they say it has to fit easily into the sizer, so once you have to push or a bit sticks out it's on the passenger not the airline. Just because you got away with it for 200 other trips doesn't mean that they changed the rules when you get caught with a too big bag, they didn't enforce them the other times and you got lucky.

It's not like it's hard or expensive to get bags that meet the carry on size. So when you get charged for an oversized bag it's not the cabin staff meeting a quota it's because you were too miserable to buy a proper sized carry on bag or too miserable to pay for the hold if you really need the kitchen sink.

The trouble is, even if you have right on your side (and the man i saw getting caught definitely did, his tiny hard shell wheelie was about half the size of the max allowed), they've got control of the boarding gate so you pay or you don't fly, basically.

I wonder has anyone appealed this after the fact? I'm assuming you'd get nowhere with Ryanair, but is there an aviation ombudsman or something?

If they were just transparent and fair about it, I think everyone has got the hang of playing by whatever rules they have - but they're not being even-handed or fair in the implementation lately by the sounds of it.

Well to be fair if you go here & look at the specific section on baggage, it does say that they give an extra 5cm on the measuring device so if you're still having to squeeze it in, it obviously is too big.

3.1 Carry-on baggage
Each passenger can take one small item of carry-on baggage (up to 40cm x 20cm x 25cm) on the plane with them. Our small bag sizers measure 42cm x 20cm x 30cm.

There is no carry-on baggage allowance for children under two who do not have their own seat reserved and will travel on an adult’s knee. However, the adult can carry a baby bag weighing up to 5kg as well as their own carry-on baggage.

I mean it's not like they don't put the accepted sizes everywhere on the website. The only non-standard size they allow is a child's Trunkii (or equivalent) suitcase as it does fit under the seat but is slightly outside the dimensions. That is called out however on the website for anyone looking about it due to so many questions being asked.

I've used the same carry-on bag and underseat bag for the past bout 8 years in my job & never had an issue with them not fitting when checked or that. But I have seen people take the absolute p with giant rucksacks as their "small" item.

I travel with a rucksack which is within the measurements - when I half fill it, as it lacks structure everything sinks to the bottom and it bulges a bit - therefore I'd have to straighten it up/press it to fit in the bag gauge - the bag could be 50% air - do I need to buy a hard side case for Ryanair to avoid the risk?

Personally, I hate Ryanair and, unless they are the only flying where I need to be I will avoid them but, when I do I try to travel light - this latest purge seems to be them pushing everyone to check in a bag full stop as anything taken the gate can be at risk.

Yes, I accept some folks turn up with obviously too big bags but, if a bag can be compressed into the gauge then surely it is within scope.

Guess the gate staff targets have got a little more lucrative or, the number of bags captured to kick in the bonus has been pushed out.

Excellent.

Now if even half the ILL NEVER TRAVEL WITH THEM AGAIN crowd would stick to their words that would be fabulous.

Using they never caught me before so shouldn't be allowed catch me now as an attempt at an excuse, the mind boggles