Going to Portugal

Andy_P · 27 Apr 2010

Im due to go to Portugal in 3 weeks and we fly with Ryan air, thing is they say only 1 hand luggage bag per person and i was wondering if i will get through with my camera bag aswell :thinking:

,its only a small one just enough room for camera 1 lens plus a few bits, anyone else flew with them and had any problems this is the first time we have flew with them whenever we have flew before i have never had a problem taking 1 handlugage and a camera bag aswell. i have been on there website and going of what i read they expect me to put it all in 1 bag

ziggy© · 28 Apr 2010

Yes this has become quite normal these days and its just another way to make money.

I have not flown with Ryan air but i have with easy jet. Their rule is that you are only allowed one hand luggage. A handbag, a laptop bag and also a camera bag is classed as a hand luggage so you cant have one bag plus a hand bag.

I recently flew with easy jet and they were quite strict about this. They check when you board and they even check the size of your hand luggage to make sure it fits in one of those 'measuring things' they have at the airport to make sure your hand luggage is not too big. If it exceeds the allowed size you pay extra. I was stopped because i had a small camera bag and was told that i cant have two bags.

The camera bag was quite small and only had my dslr and one lens. Fortunately my 400D is quite small. I took it off the bag removed the lens and put the camera in one of my jacket pockets and the lens on the other pocket. The camera bag was soft so i managed to put it in the hand luggage.

Easyjet have become very strict about this and charge quite a lot of money if you get caught out. You should see the number of people trying to force their handbags into their bags during boarding

I've not flown with Ryanair but i would guess they are worse than easy jet as they are cheaper

Andy_P · 28 Apr 2010

Thanks for that Ziggy looks like camera's comming through with me and the rest going in one of the cases

johnjess · 29 Apr 2010

Hi , I am flying with Easyjet this summer as well and am hoping to take my Dslr with me.. I have a Lowepro Fastpack 200 and am hoping to use the top section for my passport ,tickets etc and squeeze camera and all accessories in the bottom section. I'm not sure if it will meet the size requirements though, has anyone taken one before ? What are the costs if it doesn't meet requirements?

Lufbrarunner · 29 Apr 2010

I have flown many times with Ryanair and have never had a problem, I have a rucksack that is the the correct size and I make sure it is under the 10kg limit. I have seen others get on board with larger bags and with multiple bags and they have not been stopped.
I will be flying with Easyjet next week and I see their size limits are the same but they allow any weight "within reason" ??

london_dan · 29 Apr 2010

What part of Portugal you going to? Hope you have a nice time!

Kiwi Jaz · 29 Apr 2010

No, they are very strict on this now.
I fly with Ryanair a lot and they are really clamping down on this.
I use a Lowepro Flipback 250 and put my luggage and camera in that. It is a squeeze and I have to pack carefully (and leave kit that is non essential behind) but can usually get enough in for a long weekend away.
I guess if your camera bag is quite compact, you may be able to put it in a duty free bag!
Otherwise, you will need to pay the extra for a hold bag.
It is frustrating when there is no room left in the cabin storage (because others havent adhered to the 1 piece of luggage rule) and also when your expensive gear is in a bag and other people are ramming their luggage in and crushing your gear!
Anyway, good luck. Hope you enjoy Portugal.

Kev M · 29 Apr 2010

I've seen plenty of people stopped at the gate by Ryanair staff for having over-sized or multiple bags. I've also seen people get away with it, it really is luck of the draw. When coming back from Palma I saw one teenage lad unpacking his rucksack, putting on all the jumpers and coats he'd put in it and then stuffing spare trainers inside his jacket so that his bag would fit in the size checker. It's a joke because the gate staff know that as soon as he's through the gate he'll stick it all back in the bag.

I've also seen people stopped for carrying a bag of duty-free as well as their carry on luggage. Even the duty free has to fit into your one carry on bag. You can try having two bags and see if you can get away with it but be prepared to stump up £35 at the gate to have one of your bags put in the hold.