Ryanair & Wizzair: new hand luggage rules may ban wheelie bags from the cabin! Is it legal?
Monday, November 5, 2018
November 1st marked the end of free hand-luggage onboard Ryanair and Wizzair flights. But what exactly is the situation? How can they get away with this?
What are the changes in Ryanair’s and Wizzair’s cabin baggage policy?
Ryanair’s new hand luggage policy won’t let you take a wheelie bag in the cabin unless you pay for it
After their last changes to their hand luggage caused longer waiting times and flight delays, Ryanair has found itself in the complicated situation of having to re-adjust their cabin baggage policy. This time, they won’t listen to their customers.
From now on, you will only be allowed a small carry-on bag in the cabin (it must fit under the seat in front of you) unless you are willing to pay for priority boarding. Regular customers will have to check their luggage at the check-in counter when arriving at the airport. Not only that, you will have to pay an extra £8 every time (if purchased at booking) or £10 if done later. Did you forget to do it and now you’re at the airport and in front of the desk? You’ll have to spend around £20.
Our recommendations
If you do not want to part ways with your luggage when flying with Ryanair, then we believe that the best option is to opt for priority boarding. It will cost you an extra £6 (each way) when booking, but you will be able to bring your hand luggage with you into the cabin as well as your item. Be careful though, as Ryanair only sells 95 priority boarding upgrades even though there are 189 seats available per flight.
You guessed It right, Ryanair is trying to make you pay a tad more for your flights by pushing you into buying priority boarding or having to pay the fee for checking your wheelie bag. Nonetheless, we believe that if you want to travel with the least amount of fuzz, buying priority boarding is your best option.
Wizzair’s changes to their hand luggage policy
At Wizzair, it is now possible to travel with one piece of luggage (45 x 30 x 20 cm) free of charge in the cabin. However, only passengers with the "Wizz Priority" option will be able to carry a second piece of luggage (55 x 40 x 23 cm) in the cabin at no additional cost.
Is it legal to charge for a carry-on baggage item?
Ryanair’s new baggage policy is already being challenged in Italy and Spain. Legal proceedings against these low-cost measures have been initiated. In the case of France and Belgium, airlines have the legal right to change their baggage policy provided that it is clearly indicated to consumers. Courts will have to decide soon if Ryanair is allowed to take these measures. If they permit it, you can expect other low-cost carriers to follow suit.
Flight delayed or cancelled by Ryanair? Claim compensation!
If your Ryanair flight has been delayed or cancelled you may be entitled to compensation. You can check your flight for free with our claim calculator and later decide if you wish to submit your claim with Flight-Delayed. The best of all, our 25% win fee will only apply if we successfully claim your compensation. It also covers all the costs we could incur while doing so. Even if we need to initiate legal proceedings. Don’t waste any time, check your flight and claim your compensation!
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