When did Ryanair change their bag policy?

Ryanair Cabin Baggage As of November 1st, 2018, Ryanair's baggage policy has changed. Only priority boarding passengers will be permitted to take one small bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm), plus a larger cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20cm) with a maximum weight allowance of 10kg into the cabin free of charge.



Ryanair's most significant and controversial bag policy change occurred on November 1, 2018. Before this date, passengers were allowed to bring one small personal bag and one standard-sized 10kg carry-on bag to the gate (though the larger bag was often tagged for the hold for free). Under the 2018 rules, only one small "personal item" (40cm x 20cm x 25cm) is included for free for all passengers. To bring a 10kg carry-on bag into the cabin, passengers must now purchase "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags," which typically costs between €6 and €30. If you do not have "Priority," any 10kg bag must be checked in at the desk for a fee. This policy was designed to reduce boarding delays caused by too many bags in the overhead bins. While the fees have fluctuated with inflation in 2025 and 2026, the core "one free small bag" structure remains the foundation of Ryanair's ultra-low-cost model, serving as a template that many other budget carriers worldwide have since adopted to increase their non-ticket "ancillary" revenue.

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Let it be said, it pays to come prepared, especially when flying Ryanair. The popular budget airline famously has one of the strictest baggage allowances in Europe, and it has recently gotten even stricter. Additionally, even if you do stick to their rules, you may still be penalized for tiny infractions.

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You are allowed a single personal item, like a backpack, however, your Ryanair cabin bag can't be larger than 25 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Customers with Priority tickets can bring one personal item and one piece of carry-on luggage that doesn't weigh more than 10 kilograms and isn't larger than 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.

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Only priority boarding passengers will be permitted to take one small bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm), plus a larger cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20cm) with a maximum weight allowance of 10kg into the cabin free of charge.

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Major US domestic airlines carry-on policies
  • Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8 inches, free, no weight limit.
  • Carry-on: 22 x 14 x 9 inches, free, must fit in the sizer at the airport (including handles and wheels), no weight limit.


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For full-size cabin bags, I have never seen Ryanair weigh a bag to check it is under 10kg – though if it looks much bigger, you may be asked you to place it in a measuring stand to check. If you are asked to fit it into the measuring stand and you can't squeeze it in, you will have to pay to check it in.

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Famously quipped “the Ryanair size”, 40 x 20 x 25 cm (16 x 8 x 10 in) is the maximum dimensions of a cabin bag (such as a laptop bag or handbag) that ultra-cheap airline Ryanair would allow its passengers to carry into its cabin free of charge under its strict baggage allowance policy.

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Every passenger is allowed 1 checked bag, which must weigh less than 20kg. Passengers must ensure they adhere to this weight restriction, as exceeding it will incur an additional fee. It is also important to be mindful of the size limits placed on a checked bag, as Ryanair will not accept bags larger than 81x119x119cm.

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What if my cabin bag is 2cm bigger? Extra 2–4 cm wont be noticed by the check in staff and they dont have a ruler to measure the dimension. they only strict with the weight. But extra 2–3 kg is also not a problem.

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If you purchased the 10kg Check-In Bag (up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm) you may carry your small bag on board the aircraft, however the 10kg Check-In Bag must be deposited at the bag-drop desk prior to entering security.

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So, how strict are they about check-in luggage? It depends, is the answer. Ryanair has a 10kg weight limit for check-in bags, but they are frequently willing to let passengers go over by a few kilos. If your bag is significantly overweight, they may charge you an additional fee.

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Non-priority customers who have not added a bag to their booking can still purchase a 10kg Check-in bag at the airport bag drop desk for €/£ 35.99. Non-priority customers who bring their 10kg Check-in bag to the boarding gate may check it in against payment of a fee of €/£ 46.00.

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If you need additional baggage allowance, there are various options available to you. 1: Cabin Baggage: Priority & 2 Cabin Bags: This allows you to carry a small personal bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard, to be stored in the overhead locker.

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All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements: Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on: 22 in x 16 in x 8 in/55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Maximum Weight of Carry-on: 22 lbs (10 kg) Maximum Dimensions of Small Bag: 14 x 8 x 8 in/35 x 20 x 20 cm.

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How big is a 40x20x25 bag? AIRLINE UNIVERSAL SIZE — 40 x 20 x 25 cm/15.7 x 7.8 x 9.8 inch, it is a carry-on luggage for most airline company such as Ryanair,British Airways,Jetblue,easyJet,flybe,TUI Airways,Spirit Airline,Lufthansa, etc.

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How strict are the airlines about luggage dimensions? Carryon dimensions are limited to the size of the overhead bin. In those cases dimensions are strict. Anything too big gets gate checked.

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It's easy to determine the size of a 20kg bag in Ryanair, since they have a very specific policy. Ryanair's maximum checked bag size is 55 x 40 x 20 cm including handles and wheels. It also has a maximum weight of 20kg. So as long as your bag adheres to these measurements, it should be accepted as a 20kg bag.

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Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.

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Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols. Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion.

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