The airline we all love (a sort of flying telephonica ) have just tightened up their baggage rules so be warned if you are planning to fly with them any time soon.

We're off to Granada for a short break next week. Rather than take hold baggage as I do for UK trips we are trying to go with handbaggage only.

First problem trying to find a small suitcase which actually meets Ryan Airs regs. Their max size is smaller than IATA rules so a lot of cases being sold as OK for cabin baggage are too big. Never mind, eventually found something suitable.

Now I have received an e:mail from them telling me that the 1 piece of cabin baggage rule really does mean 1 piece. No separate handbag, laptop, bag with purchases from the departure lounge or anything else allowed. So when you've checked in online and turn up at the departure gate with too much it will either be confiscated or put in the hold at a charge of 35 euros.

This won't be a problem for us this trip although I can see it might be sometimes. It certain knocks large impulse purchases in the departure lounge on the head. My husband will be so pleased but I bet the shops won't be.

So it seems that although Ryan Air say they really only want people to travel with cabin baggage they are actually making it more & more difficult to do so. Oh and I believe they are putting up their hold baggage charges from 1st October. Call me an old cynic but it all sounds like another way of making money.

Rose

I hadn't realised about the size difference. God, they're annoying. Mind you, the one piece of hand luggage has pretty much meant that ever since the security regs were tightened up. I've had to cram my handbag into my little carry-on suitcase to get through security for a good couple of years now. And the laptop if necessary.

But yes, they're clearly making it harder and harder to only travel with hand luggage.

They are in business, and as such have to make money.
Did you use a visa electron card to buy you tickets?
There are many ways for them to make money out of you, you just have to play their game. Play it properly and you will have a cheap flight.
Easyjet are pretty much the same, my wife was charged £16 at the gate for an oversized bag. Whose fault was it? The wife's! The rules are written and should be complied with, it's the only way to pay the headline figure you see!

Although I don't believe there's any maximum size for how large your coat pockets can be

Yet !!!

Exactly,I suggested it a while back.
Could use one of those poachers coats with several huge pockets the size of carrier bags inside and out where they normally carry their rabbits or ferrets and the rest of the gear.
If they ask about it just say you're off on a hunting trip.
Complain about the air-con and take it off on the plane.
They'll certainly look a bit silly if they put a ban or charge on coats and pocket sizes...........but there again,with Pikey Airways who knows?

Ryanair made 545 million quid on their little extras last year,expected to be much more this time.

They'd probably charge you an extra ticket for the ferret

Mind you we have had these restrictions with BMI baby for a while and they are not so competitively priced as R Air

Do you know what banks do electron cards, as I fly Ryan air all the time, could do with one really?

They arent new rules though are they?
Same rules as before I think

Halifax, and Abbey do. I suspect a number of other banks do. If you ask they will normally tell you that the account that has the card does not pay a great deal of interest. I only use mine to buy flights and top up the account before I use the card.
I think the benefit to airlines is that unlike a credit card you have no protection. Although this may be true, the credit card will only insure you on purchases over £100. The airlines sell single tickets only, although you might think you are buying a return you are not. So if you outward bound flight is cancelled they will only refund that flight, not your inward flight aswell.

Here in Spain, Ruralcaja is one bank that I know has an electron card.

Exactly, their rules for hand luggage have always been ONE item, we just stick my wifes' handbag in the hand baggage, and get a bag big enough to take your laptop, they don't measure the hand luggage, just don't take anything obviuosly too big, and keep out of duty free, mind you for UK residents, you get NO advantage buying there than buying in Spain itself.

You are probably right but in the past they always looked at my cabin baggage at the check in desk, never weighed or measured it. I've always carried a handbag separately and have occasionally bought things in the departure lounge and carried them onto the plane separately.

Now that Ryan Air have done away with check-in desks the first opportunity they have to check anyone's cabin bag is at the gate. So they are sending out e:mails saying they intend to apply the rules there. Thats the new part because they never did before. It remains to be seen whether they will start weighing and/or measuring handluggage now.

If you know that's going to happen you are less likely to get caught out. I'll see what happens when we fly next week but I'll be in compliance just to be sure.

Rose

Thats always been the first place that they could examine your cabin baggage though if you havent checked anything in. If you have checked in online you go straight to the gates.
I suspect they will just check anything thats taking the mickey. Whenever I go theres always people with bags far bigger than mine and I always wonder how they get away with it