Ryanair Carry-On Baggage

PaurGasm

Basically i have a bag that is 7cm over width restriction for carry on. But the bag will not be full and therefore i could squish the bag below the restriction...

Could I still get on the flight?

Zimmerframe

if it fits in the ryanair holder in the airport, its fine otherwise it's not, so as long as you can squash it, you should be OK.
I flew to Poland with them last week and in Dublin, they made just about everyone on the flight check the bag, and on the return flight, nobody was checked.

sudzs

I've had a similar experience, Zimmerframe except that it was 2 different routes. On a flight to and from Spain a ryanair person went up and down the queue checking bag size and telling me and others to put handbags and shopping bags into the case. But last week I got onto a flight to Dublin with my little suitcase and my shoulder bag hanging off me full of stuff !! The only difference was that the Dublin was boarding when I got to the gate so they were hooshing everyone along quickly.

So maybe PaurGasm, wait until the flight is boarding to arrive at the gate with you borderline bag!!

Latchy

I flew back from Dublin last week and as long as it fits in the overhead locker you'll be fine .

PaurGasm

thanks guys...

what if, by pure bad luck, they refuse my bag entry to the plane?

diceyreilly

PaurGasm wrote: »

thanks guys...

what if, by pure bad luck, they refuse my bag entry to the plane?

They will charge you to put it in the hold. There are plenty of them scattered round the airport just bate it into it. Doesnt sound that big you'll be fine.

sillysocks

Yeah once you can squash it into the bag size thing they have it'll be fine. I've seen loads of people over the years literally beating their bags into the thing and once it fits in the staff don't seem to care if you've forced it in.

On the last flight I was on a passenger squashed her bag in so much she had major trouble getting it back out and they still allowed her through!

yabadabado

We were coming back from England and my mate was asked to check his bag.he squashed his bag in and couldnt get it out,needed the two of us to pull it out.In fairness to the staff they let him away with it.probably because half the queue were laughing at him.

Hanley

yabadabado wrote: »

We were coming back from England and my mate was asked to check his bag.he squashed his bag in and couldnt get it out,needed the two of us to pull it out.In fairness to the staff they let him away with it.probably because half the queue were laughing at him.

THat happens so regularly it's not even funny.

When I was coming back from Bristol last year some woman got get case stuck and I pretty much mounted the rack to pull it out, let her thru fine, and didn't even bother checking mine. Cos they knew I'd win.

**Timbuk2**

There's a few of these around the airport, so you can try putting your bag into it before you are asked to at the gate. That way you'll have an idea if it's easy to get it, or whether removing a jacket (or something) and wearing it would make it any easier! There's definitely some at the bag drop desks (in the check-in area of departures before security) but you can always just go to an empty boarding gate after security.

I know Stansted airport had quite a few of them scattered along the walk to the Ryanair gates, can't remember about Dublin, but they probably have something similar.

Hanley

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

There's a few of these around the airport, so you can try putting your bag into it before you are asked to at the gate. That way you'll have an idea if it's easy to get it, or whether removing a jacket (or something) and wearing it would make it any easier! There's definitely some at the bag drop desks (in the check-in area of departures before security) but you can always just go to an empty boarding gate after security.

I know Stansted airport had quite a few of them scattered along the walk to the Ryanair gates, can't remember about Dublin, but they probably have something similar.

They're at most of the Ryanair gates in Dublin, and a few random ones around. So just find a gate not boarding for a test run. There's some in the check in areas as well.

wailim_2002

We have a soft carry on bag that has wheels, extendible handle and carry straps depending what way you want to carry it etc.

Its height is well within the limit. Its width is well within the limit but in an uncompressed shape (even empty) it is slightly deeper. If you fill it to capacity then it will not squash in so we are always careful about this.

Its volume and weight capacity are less that a fixed dimension hard case (unless you stuff it with gold).

Due to its shape, which is sort of circular on one side it always attracts the attention of Ryanair gate attendants looking for commission. However on every flight (12+) we have been on it has always fit into the steel or cardboard device with a little help.

However on 1 flight at Dublin, the attendant said you cannot assist the bag and charged €40.

I am thinking of doing a chargeback using the credit card.

I just had another thought though. We had checkin luggage also. If we had said fine..we wont fly if you are going to be so unreasonable...... the plane would have been stuck at the gate for an hour while they tried to find our checkin to remove it off the plane... because as far as I know they are not allowed take off with unaccompanied checked-in bags.

I am thinking to do this next time to see what happens. I will be sure to do it on a flight where I am on business so could care less and jump on the next flight.

mikedragon32

If you feel that strongly about it, why bother flying with them again?

Would you really inconvenience all other passengers deliberately to make a point?

Plus, your chargeback will most likely fail. No doubt your card supplier is used to people trying to chargeback for fees incurred. You agreed to make the payment and received the service.

wailim_2002

mikedragon32 wrote: »

If you feel that strongly about it, why bother flying with them again?

Would you really inconvenience all other passengers deliberately to make a point?

Plus, your chargeback will most likely fail. No doubt your card supplier is used to people trying to chargeback for fees incurred. You agreed to make the payment and received the service.

hmmm.. I've seen people squash their bags into the steel frame. Have you? I've done it myself many times. Have you? Since this has happened, I've read and re-read the Ryanair T&Cs and nowhere does it state you cannot squash soft luggage in. Neither does it state expandable luggage should be fully expanded even if not full. In my opinion that is people reading in stuff that simply is not there.

The simple fact is their T&C is not clear but they have the steel frame for hard cases and the box for measuring soft cases and I know my hand luggage fits in both. If it can fit in the box it should be allowed in the cabin end of discussion.

So in answer to your question 1: No, I am not trying to incovenience anyone. I am trying to establish some clarity. If my luggage really is not acceptable then I need to know. I cannot let 1/12 flights be 'okay on balance' because the next 12 I might get charged everytime.

As for the chargeback, the credit card is merely a means of payment. If you have a dispute you are entitled to chargeback. Usually your bank sides with you and I am unhappy with the way this attendant interpreted the T&Cs and will continue to be unhappy until Ryanair spell it out more clearly by stating for example "Soft hand luggage may not be squashed in and expandable luggage must be full expanded even if not full". Is this too much to ask?

In reality all this does is push the ball well and truly back into the attendants court to choose between letting it go or delaying the flight. You can be sure if even a single flight gets delayed for €40 that the T&Cs will be clarified the very next day!!

mikedragon32

wailim_2002 wrote: »

hmmm.. I've seen people squash their bags into the steel frame. Have you? I've done it myself many times. Have you? Since this has happened, I've read and re-read the Ryanair T&Cs and nowhere does it state you cannot squash soft luggage in. Neither does it state expandable luggage should be fully expanded even if not full. In my opinion that is people reading in stuff that simply is not there.

The simple fact is their T&C is not clear but they have the steel frame for hard cases and the box for measuring soft cases and I know my hand luggage fits in both. If it can fit in the box it should be allowed in the cabin end of discussion.

So in answer to your question 1: No, I am not trying to incovenience anyone. I am trying to establish some clarity. If my luggage really is not acceptable then I need to know. I cannot let 1/12 flights be 'okay on balance' because the next 12 I might get charged everytime.

As for the chargeback, the credit card is merely a means of payment. If you have a dispute you are entitled to chargeback. Usually your bank sides with you and I am unhappy with the way this attendant interpreted the T&Cs and will continue to be unhappy until Ryanair spell it out more clearly by stating for example "Soft hand luggage may not be squashed in and expandable luggage must be full expanded even if not full". Is this too much to ask?

In reality all this does is push the ball well and truly back into the attendants court to choose between letting it go or delaying the flight. You can be sure if even a single flight gets delayed for €40 that the T&Cs will be clarified the very next day!!

I've never had to squash luggage in, no. I tend to travel very light unless I'm with my family in which case I'll check luggage and try to go as light as possible on board.

I will concede that I've seen plenty of people stuff bags into the frame without comment or charge from handlers and/or ground crew.

I have also seen people refuse to pay and to be honest, it didn't take an hour to get bags back from the luggage hold. I think it took maybe 10 minutes and given the padding Ryanair put on their flight times, on all but the shortest flights they can make that time back. I just feel that delaying a flight to prove your point is selfish at best.

Azureus

I was on a Ryanair flight in December and had a problem with the carry on baggage. I travel light, I always do and I have never had a problem with my baggage before (since I've been using this particular bag, been on 6/7 Ryanair flights). It's a hard case, but within the dimensions determined by Ryanair. When we were sitting in the hall, my boyfriend noticed the steel frame at te boarding gate and commented that it looked very small. For peace of mind while waiting at the gate I slotted my bag into the steel frame in the main hall (not the one at the boarding gate) and it slid in and out no problem.

We then went to board the flight and nearly every bag was being checked. At least 6 people had already been caught out and everyone looked really annoyed. I went to slide my bag into the steel frame...and it got caught! Wouldnt go near the thing. Now eventually I pushed it down into it (luckily there was very little in it so despite it being a hard case there was some movement) but I would put money on it that the frame in the main hall and the frame at the actual gate were marginally different in size. I wasnt the only one who thought so either. I got away with it, but there was loads of people who got screwed on that flight at €40 a pop. Absolute scam in my mind! It wouldnt stop me flying with Ryanair, but the attitude of the hostesses at the gate was shocking (and Im usually a Ryanair supporter!) and there was definately something up with that steel frame.

Not even looked at on the return flight and Id twice as much in my bag coming home!

wailim_2002

I'm not sure what point you think I am trying to make at the expense of other passengers? I am merely saying that the next time an attendant wants to charge me for 6 or 7Kg of light clothes etc in a soft carry on because they wont let me assist the bag into the measure I will not pay end of story. The implications of what happens next really has nothing to do with me. And as you say if ryanair staff can rummage around in sealed boxes looking for my checked in hard cases in 10 mins then it might be more economical for that attendant to persist and kick me off.

However, reading back its pretty clear I am not the only one who believes its fair game to assist soft carry on bags into the measure!

Regardless, neither you nor I know the exact story here. What I will do before it next comes to a head at the gate is email ryanair insisting that they clarify the position in their T&Cs within their normal response time or I will assume I am right and do a chargeback on the basis of unclear and inconsistently applied T&Cs that I was not in a position to inspect / challenge or defend against at the gate and so conceded on the day in the interests of other passengers believing that route to be the lesser of two evils.

keithclancy

Its depends on how full the flight is.

IMO if you take on a bag over the size of the cage you shouldn't be allowed carry it on, on a full flight whoever gets on last that sticks to the rules will have nowhere to put their bag becuase of the people that have taken on bags over the size limit.

I fly back quite regularly to Ireland, just ask the staff if your curious as to why the restriction exists.

I got on a flight once from Dublin where this one had taken on a massive holdall, tried to ram it into the overhead locker above us, my laptop was in there and the guy next to me also obviously had some fragile stuff in his bag.
The lady in question pulled out my bag and the other guys on the inside and said "Here, stick that under your seat"

Called the Air Hostess, pointed out that the womans bag was clearly above the size limit, the lady lost plot saying she had 'gotten on' so it should be allowed and since our bags were smaller we should "jam em under the seat"

Air Hostess took her bag off her, they kicked her off the flight. Don't know what happened to her.

Anyways, long story short, you might or might not get it on depending on how full the flight is.

AfterDusk

wailim_2002 wrote: »

Just get a bag of the correct dimensions & stop being so petty for God's sake! Your bag had dimensions bigger than that allowed and so, rightly, you were charged.