Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2’s luggage rules you need to know – and the bags to buy | Travel News | Travel

You may have found a low-cost deal on a Jet2 flight or scooped up a Ryanair ticket for less than £50, but if you don’t understand your designated luggage allowance, the cost can suddenly unexpectedly add up. Most airlines have a luggage allowance for passengers with the option to pay for more bags or to check in a suitcase if necessary.

Though this can be done for a reasonable price in advance, if you leave things until you arrive at the check-in desk, the cost of excess luggage may come as a shock.

The best way to make sure you don’t end up being slapped with unexpected luggage fees is to fully understand the specific rules set out by your airline. Though there have been no major changes to luggage rules from easyJet, Ryanair or Jet2 in recent months, they do all differ from one another, so while one bag may work for one airline it might not for another.

We’ve rounded up all of the latest hand luggage rules for Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet below, as well as some of our favourite bags that fit the specifications for each.

Jet2, which recently took the title of “best budget airline” in a Which? customer satisfaction survey, is known for having a fairly lenient hand luggage allowance when compared to its other budget competitors. For a fully detailed guide to all of Jet2 and Jet2holiday’s luggage allowance, as well as some packing tips and tricks, click here.

All Jet2 passengers are entitled to one piece of hand luggage free of charge, however, luggage:

• Must weigh no more than 10kg
• Must measure no more than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including any wheels and handles

Any baggage heavier or larger than this may need to be checked into the aircraft hold for an additional charge. Passengers can also bring one personal item onboard for free, such as a laptop bag or a handbag.

All hand luggage is carried in the cabin at the discretion of Jet2. In some cases, particularly on full flights, cabin space may need to be freed up by placing some cabin bags into the hold. If this is the case, it will be done at no extra charge to the passenger.

According to Jet2: “Subject to availability, you can pre-book Guaranteed Cabin Luggage for an extra charge, and if you have purchased this service, you will not be asked to put your hand baggage in the hold – unless it exceeds the weight and size requirements detailed above or operational requirements apply.”

Ryanair is renowned for its strict luggage policy including cabin bags and checked luggage. That means, if you find yourself bringing more than your ticket allowance, you could be facing a hefty fee of as much as £59.99 at the airport.

This is why it is so important to check exactly how much luggage you are permitted to bring onboard. In all cases, you can save money on Ryanair luggage if you purchase extra bags online in advance of your flight. If you leave it until the last minute, you could end up paying far more.

All passenger fares include a small personal bag, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you

Passengers who wish to take a second, larger piece of luggage have the option to purchase a Priority fare., which includes more luggage as well as some additional perks.

Priority fares allow customers to take a small personal bag (40 x 20 x 25cm) and a cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20cm) weighing up to 10kg with them onboard

• Priority fare passengers also board the plane first via the Priority Queue
• Priority plus two extra bags costs between £6 and £36 when done online, compared to at the check-in desk where it can cost anywhere from £20 to £38.

If priority is sold out or passengers wish to check their bag, they can purchase a 10kg check-in bag.

• When purchased online, a 10kg checked bag can cost anywhere from £11.99 to £29.99
• At the airport, passengers could end up forking out between £23.99 and £35.99

There is a major catch Ryanair passengers should be aware of. If you do show up at the boarding gate with a 10kg bag which has not been purchased in advance, you could end up being slapped with a last-minute check-in fee of £46.00 should it be rejected at the gate.

Therefore, the key to saving almost £46 is simple: Purchase your 10kg check-in bag online before you head for the airport.

All easyJet passengers can bring one small cabin bag per person free of charge, but there are size and weight restrictions that must be followed. Like with all other budget airlines, exceeding your luggage allowance could result in an unexpected fee. You can read our full guide to all of easyJet’s luggage rules here.

• Hand luggage can measure a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles or wheels)
• Hand luggage must be able to fit under the seat infront of you
• Hand luggage can weigh up to 15kg, but passengers must be able to lift it themselves

Some passengers can bring a large cabin bag on board measuring 56 x 45 x 25 cm (including any handles or wheels) if they:

• Booked a large cabin bag for their flight
• Are an easyJet Plus cardholder
• Booked a FLEXI fare

Regardless of your ticket or additional luggage purchases, the maximum number of cabin bags each customer is allowed is two.

You can add an extra bag to your booking by visiting the Manage Bookings section of the easyJet website.

Passengers are urged to check the size of their carry-on luggage before arriving at the airport, with easyJet’s website stating: “We check cabin bag sizes before you board.

“If your cabin bag is bigger than the maximum size allowed or if you bring a large cabin bag to the departure gate without the correct seat selection or without one pre-booked for your flight, it won’t be able to go in the cabin. We’ll have to check it into the aircraft hold and charges will apply.”