Updated: 12.00
Irish carrier Ryanair is changing its policy to discourage passengers from bringing on carry-on bags.
It has announced reduced checked bag fees, and increased check-in bag sizes, to encourage more customers to check-in bags.
It says it wants to reduce the number of customers with two bags at the boarding gates.
The changes mean that unless you are a Priority Boarding customer, only one small handbag or laptop case will be allowed in the cabin.
Bigger, wheelie bags will be placed in the hold at the boarding gate.
The airline says in a statement: "As too many customers are availing of Ryanair’s improved two free carry-on bags service, and with high load factors (97% in August) there is not enough overhead cabin space for this volume of carry-on bags, which is causing boarding/flight delays."
To encourage customers to check-in some bags, Ryanair is introducing the following bag policy changes from November 1st:
- The check-in bag allowance will increase from 15kg to 20kg for all bags
- The standard check-in bag fee will be cut from €35 to €25 for this 20kg bag
- Only Priority Boarding customers (including Plus, Flexi Plus & Family Plus) will be allowed to bring two carry-on bags on the aircraft
- All other (i.e. non-priority) customers will only be allowed to bring one smaller carry-on bag on board the aircraft, while their second (bigger) wheelie bag must be placed in the hold (free of charge) at the boarding gate
Ryanair's Kenny Jacobs told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk parents travelling with young babies will be exempt from the new changes.
"We simply have too many people coming to the gate, trying to bring too much luggage on board - that has caused flight delays in Dublin and at airports around Europe."
"Customers can still bring too bags for free: if you're travelling non-priority you will bring the small bag on to the aircraft with you, and the bigger wheelie bag that will be tagged at the gate and put in the hold".
"Mums and dads travelling with an infant will also have an additional 5kg extra bag that they can bring in addition to the small bag if they're non-priority to accommodate any infant equipment: nappies, changing equipment etc.
"And the infant is entitled to bring a bag also".
