By Staff Reporter
Budget airline Ryanair is set to increase the size allowance for its free 鈥減ersonal bag鈥 by 20%, aligning with a new EU-wide standard designed to simplify air travel across carriers.
Soon, passengers will be able to bring a slightly larger bag鈥攕uch as a handbag or laptop bag鈥攎easuring up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm into the cabin at no additional cost. The bag must weigh under 10kg and fit under the seat in front of the passenger.
This updated size represents a 20% increase in volume compared to Ryanair鈥檚 current allowance of 40cm x 25cm x 20cm. It will also exceed the EU鈥檚 upcoming minimum cabin bag requirement of 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, giving Ryanair travelers more space than the mandated standard.
Ryanair says the new policy will be rolled out in the coming weeks as airports and staff update the bag-measuring equipment to reflect the change. However, the airline did not provide a specific reason for the increased allowance.
Despite this upgrade, Ryanair鈥檚 policy still lags behind some of its competitors. EasyJet, for example, allows a free underseat bag up to 45cm x 36cm x 20cm, also weighing up to 10kg. Wizz Air matches Ryanair鈥檚 new size and weight limits. Meanwhile, British Airways permits a slightly smaller personal item (40cm x 30cm x 15cm), but also includes a second, larger cabin bag free of charge with a generous weight limit of up to 23kg.
The European Union has been working with airlines to establish a consistent minimum free baggage standard across all EU-based carriers, including Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air. The goal is to eliminate confusion for passengers and avoid surprise fees for non-compliant bags.
Discrepancies between airlines鈥 policies have long frustrated travelers, with many caught off guard by unexpected charges when their bag dimensions didn鈥檛 meet specific airline criteria.
In a further move to support travelers, the European Parliament鈥檚 transport committee recently voted in favor of granting passengers the right to carry an additional piece of free hand luggage weighing up to 7kg. This proposal still needs approval from the full European Parliament before it becomes law.
Travelers are advised to check with their airline directly for the most current baggage allowances and fees before flying.