Ryanair's new luggage fees spark outrage with charges of up to £45– how to swerve them

The price of adding a checked-in bag to your booking with the budget airline has skyrocketed for some passengers, leading to complaints on social media

Ryanair passengers might be hit with increased charges of up to £45 under new guidelines. The budget-friendly airline has once again revised its luggage prices, this time impacting those travelling with checked-in bags.

The low-cost carrier is renowned for its stringent baggage policies and has 'sizers' at all its airport gates to ensure customers adhere to the rules. Passengers are only allowed to bring a small personal bag on board free of charge unless they opt for Priority boarding, which permits an additional large cabin bag, or pay extra for a checked-in bag.

In the past, Ryanair levied charges ranging from £11.99 to £29.99 to add a 10kg check-in bag at the time of booking, or between £23.99 and £35.99 to do so later or at the airport on the day of travel.

However, the 'fees' section on the airline's website now indicates that passengers can anticipate paying between £9.49 and £44.99 to add a 10kg check-in bag at the time of booking. The exact cost is dependent on the route and date of travel, meaning some passengers may end up paying slightly less than before, but those facing the higher charge will now have to fork out an extra £15.

Ryanair has hiked the fee for adding a 10kg hold bag after booking or at the airport, now charging between £23.99 and £44.99, which is up to £9 more at the top end. In contrast, the airline has reduced the post-booking cost for a 20kg check-in bag for some flyers, adjusting the range from £44.99 - £59.99 to a new bracket of £39.99 - £59.99, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The budget carrier did not reply to BirminghamLive's request for a statement on the fare adjustments, but its website clarifies: "Fee varies depending on the route and travel dates selected."

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For those without priority who haven't pre-booked a bag, Ryanair's site informs that a 10kg check-in bag can be bought at the airport bag drop desk for €/£ 35.99-€/£40. If non-priority passengers take their 10kg Check-in bag to the boarding gate, they face a fee of €/£ 46.00 - €/£ 60.00 to check it in. BirminghamLive also highlighted last week that Ryanair had raised the price range for Priority boarding upgrades from £20-£38 to £20-£60.

Social media has seen customers venting frustration over Ryanair's additional fees, with @micha4768 on X slamming the airline: "OMG @Ryanair 40 quid for a 10kg hold bag, absolutely disgusting price wouldn't have been so bad for a 22kg hold, but that is DISGUSTING. I'll never again fly with you."

EddieHa35418086 expressed his frustration with a tweet at the airline: "@Ryanair why are baggage charges so high? " Meanwhile, @Sickboy_Mcsatan didn't hold back, advising: "Just avoid Ryanair if you can, they make EasyJet seem luxurious and customer friendly. They charge extra for *every* little thing, I'll never use them again if there's an alternative."

Yet some passengers seem unfazed by the additional fees as flights remain competitive in cost. Twitter user @IMegy71 countered with, "I bet it is still cheaper on Ryanair than other airlines, even with the additional charge."

Shop Ryanair approved luggage

For those jetting off with Ryanair soon and keen to dodge oversized luggage fees, high-end brand Antler has knocked £51 off its Brixham Cabin Bag during their post-Prime Week Sale, ideal dimensions for Ryanair's 'large cabin bag' option.

Travelers sans Priority boarding have the option of Antler's Soft Stripe Underseat Cabin Bag, priced at £130. This could rack up significant savings for frequent flyers in comparison to upgrading to a full-scale cabin case (but always double-check airline size guidelines beforehand).

Catch all the steals in Antler's sale, boasting reductions of up to 40% here. On the hunt for something more wallet-friendly?

The WOUIYO for Ryanair Cabin Bag, tailor-made to fit underneath Ryanair seats, is currently up for grabs at just £21.35, down from £26.99, plus a bonus 20% off for Prime members stacked on the existing discount.