Ryanair and hand luggage limits

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bildo

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I'm travelling to an event this weekend, and for the first time I'm (regrettably) using Ryanair.

I have a Lowepro Pro Runner 350 AW which has been absolutely fine on several events I've had and it's never been an issue. The dimensions of the bag are as follows: 26.4 x 33 x 45.5 cm

Ryanair's hand luggage restrictions are: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm

Now I obviously fall well within the 55 and 40cm brackets, however it's the 20cm one that is a litte alarming. With the bag packed it's even more than that, so I'm planning to take as much in the hold as I can.

Has anyone used Ryanair and know exactly how strict they are with these things? Feels really harsh that I'm going to be under on two dimensions but over on one.
 
Depends how busy the flight is...
Does the 26.4 side compress down at all?
 
I think there could be a little bit of leeway if I was to take all the accessories out and put them in the hold, but the internal cushioning is the main issue really.
 
Im not saying it will be the same for you, but on the two occasions ive been unfortunate enough to have to use Ryannair, they have been VERY strict on the baggage size/weights. From reading the experiences of others, I dont think its particularly uncommon either. Cheap fares...made up for by charging the passenger elsewhere unfortunately.

Genuinely hope this isnt the case for you though.
 
I'm just struggling to see what I'd do if I was to fail to be honest. I can't risk putting several K of camera gear in the hold!
 
Not flown with Ryan Air myself but saw 3 people have their hand baggage rejected as such on size grounds while queuing at the adjacent check in desk. There's a frame into which the bag must fit - if it doesn't, it's hold fodder.
 
I've flown with Ryanair recently, and they only seemed to check bags that were obviously way over size.
I've used them lots of times, and don't see why so many folks have an issue using them.
 
If I was to take my smaller bag with me in my hold luggage, then if I get rejected on size grounds, am I going to be able to access the smaller bag to possibly switch my gear into? Or will the hold luggage already be long gone by this time?

Tempted to take the smaller bag for the hand luggage and put the larger bag in the suitcase atm, to be honest!
 
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Never had a problem with them. The only ones that do are the ones that don't follow their rules. If you bag exceeds the published dimensions and you get pulled up, then you only have yourself to blame.
 
bildo said:
If I was to take my smaller bag with me in my hold luggage, then if I get rejected on size grounds, am I going to be able to access the smaller bag to possibly switch my gear into? Or will the hold luggage already be long gone by this time?

Tempted to take the smaller bag for the hand luggage and put the larger bag in the suitcase atm, to be honest!
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Ask the person at the check in desk if it is ok before you check in the hold luggage.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Never had a problem with them. The only ones that do are the ones that don't follow their rules. If you bag exceeds the published dimensions and you get pulled up, then you only have yourself to blame.
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20cm is a little harsh on hold luggage no? Especially since they now say this:
One cabin bag weighing up to 10 kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, plus 1 small bag up to 35 x 20 x 20 cms may be carried per passenger*.

The * being that you're allowed a baby bag up to 5kg.

It's just silly and overly restrictive, imo.
 
How harsh they are depends on where you are flying from. Liverpool are awful and check all bags sizes and weights, whereas Manchester only tend to check sizes of the larger suitcase types, backpacks tend to go ignored.

No hard and fast rules but that's based on my expansive experience flying cheap! :)
 
Flew into Bournemouth with them yesterday. My LowPro CompuTrekker went through with no problems. It seemed to be rigid cabin bags that were being picked out for the hold. They are far more user friendly than they were!
 
jon ryan said:
Flew into Bournemouth with them yesterday. My LowPro CompuTrekker went through with no problems. It seemed to be rigid cabin bags that were being picked out for the hold. They are far more user friendly than they were!
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Ask them if they can insure it for £25k in the hold. That will solve any issues.

In reality soft bag up to 25cm is unlikely to cause trouble. Their test racks are (were) fairly permissive and it just makes sense to keep the bag on your back. There is 75% chance they won't even ask to measure it then.
 
Cheers guys appreciate all the help! All packed and ready to go, fingers crossed!
 
daugirdas said:
Ask them if they can insure it for £25k in the hold. That will solve any issues.
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No it won't. That's really bad advice. All airlines have conditions of carriage which you agree to when you buy the ticket, and they specify the airline's liability on the event of loss or damage.

Really, it's simple. The airline publishes its limits on baggage sizes, and if you don't comply with them then you have to be prepared for the possibility that you bag may be refused.
 
StewartR said:
No it won't. That's really bad advice. All airlines have conditions of carriage which you agree to when you buy the ticket, and they specify the airline's liability on the event of loss or damage.

Really, it's simple. The airline publishes its limits on baggage sizes, and if you don't comply with them then you have to be prepared for the possibility that you bag may be refused.
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Exactly. Not really difficult to get is it.
 
Got a bit sensitive in here towards the end, so I wanted to let you all know how my trip went.

I had the Lowepro Pro Runner 350 AW as mentioned initially. Inside I had my D800 with the grip removed (it can fit but adds a bit of size) along with the 70-200 and Sigma 35mm 1.4. I also had my 15.6" laptop in the compartment.

Now, since the initial dimensions were over I was panicking a little, so opted to test the bag in the luggage tester before I handed my case over (I had space to have a smaller bag in case.)

Luckily, as it states on the actual luggage racks, they are bigger than their actual sizing. Why they do this I'm not entirely sure, I guess to offer some leeway. With all the stuff I had in there it fitted in with no issues at all at any angle, so I was all good to fly.

Thanks for the help chaps!
 
Thanks for letting us know how you got on. All good for future reference. (y)
 
Agree with Ryanair on this one, the size of some of the baggage I have seen brought onto aircraft was nothing short of ridicules.
 
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KEV145 said:
Agree with Ryanair on this one, the size of some of the baggage I have seen brought onto aircraft was nothing short of ridicules.
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Agree, planes have a luggage hold for a reason. The hold fee's aren't that bad.

I have nothing against Ryan air. All I want in a flight is to

1. Make it out alive
2. Make it out alive with my stuff including my hold luggage.
3. Make it out alive with my stuff including my hold luggage at the time they said it would arrive at.

I got into Ryan airs hand luggage a sling back carrying D800/24-70F2.8, grad filters, chargers, phone, and a carrier bag with some gifts and s***. In the hold went my clothes and tripod. All fine.

I saw others try squeeze in massive cases with a weeks worth of holiday luggage in.
 
If you don't mind looking a bit of a plonker you could try https://www.rufusroo.com/shop/
as a backup. If they complain at check in, put the jacket on and unload the required amount of kit. Then when they've agreed all is well you walk away and transfer it back.
 
In my experience, Ryanair are the most inconsistent when applying their own rules. Anyhows, all was well :)

My missus has just learned she can have three hold cases (six between us) when we travel on Weds. She's upstairs now opening and closing drawers to see what she can fill them with :(
 
I'm bumping this to see if anyone can help with this problem

Ryanair now fly Glasgow to Dublin - so I've a choice of them or Aer Lingus/Aer Arann . I've just had a request to go and take photos at a rather special Church Service on 29 Nov. - I can do that easily enough BUT it's the usual luggage problem. Cheapest way to do this as it's the end of this month is RyanAir . My actual cabin case is fine - BUT my camera bag is the problem - they state dimensions for a personal bag of 35 x 20 x 20 cm

My bag is a Lowepro Urban Reporter 250 which is 41.5 x 17.5 x 28.5 cm - I need to take my 13 ins MacBook with me . I can have its side pockets empty but strictly speaking it's oversized . Not travelled with Ryanair for about 10 years ! For Dublin I've been using Aer Arann and I can take a cabin case [ with a much lower weight limit ] and the Urban Reporter 250 without a problem - and Are Arann use tiny planes . Don't want to put the MBP into my case for travel really . Do they actually measure the bags ? I'll be going through security etc to the plane by Airport wheelchair so don't actually go to a check in desk
 
Reverted to Plan B - Aer Arann - then I can take my decent camera bag . For me the camera bag is the deal breaker
 
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