Are you one of those travellers who likes to fly to Malaga with very light luggage? Or are you a fan of not having to waste valuable time at the baggage claim? Then you will be interested in learning more about the new Ryanair hand luggage measures.
Charging for Carry-On Baggage
Currently, charging for carrying a carry-on bag is a widespread practice among many airlines, especially low-cost airlines.
In fact, Ryanair was one of the pioneers in implementing this type of charge. As is well known, this airline offers tickets at very low prices and was looking for new sources of additional revenue by charging for services that were previously included, such as baggage.
Controversial Practice & Sanctions
From a legal perspective, airlines are free to establish their own baggage policies, as long as they communicate them transparently before purchase.
However, this measure, also adopted by other low-cost airlines in Europe, has sparked debate in various countries. In fact, the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs sanctioned Ryanair with a multi-million-dollar fine and ordered it to remove the charge for carry-on baggage.
New proposals
In fact, the European Parliament has proposed regulations to include hand luggage at no additional cost.
EU transport ministers agreed on a proposal to ensure that all passengers have the right to carry free hand luggage with a minimum size of 40x30x15 centimetres and a maximum weight of seven kilograms.
New Rayanair measures for hand luggage
Ryanair has responded by launching its new baggage policy. Specifically, passengers can now carry a slightly larger bag free of charge.
Although the measure has been in place since the beginning of the month, the low-cost carrier has announced that it will need a few weeks to change and update the devices that measure baggage size at airports.
Thus, the Irish airline has expanded the free baggage allowance with its cheapest ticket to 40x20x30 centimetres, compared to the previous size of 40x20x25 centimetres. With the change in dimensions, the baggage capacity goes from 20 litres to 24 litres.
What happens if my carry-on baggage exceeds 5 cm?
According to Ryanair policy, if a passenger’s baggage, whether a small item or a prepaid cabin bag, does not meet the established dimensions, the company charges an additional fee.
The airline may require you to check it into the hold. You’ll also have to pay a higher fee than if you had pre-checked it online when purchasing your ticket.
What happens if my carry-on bag is 2 cm too large?
It may seem like a completely ridiculous measurement, yes. But don’t be fooled, Ryanair’s carry-on baggage policies are very strict.
You must strictly adhere to the baggage regulations for your reservation. If your bag doesn’t fit through the baggage measuring devices, it will be rejected at the gate. You’ll have to pay a considerable additional fee, and it will likely be placed in the plane’s hold.
Does Ryanair really check the size of the luggage?
Yes, and even more so now with the new regulations imposed by the EU. Your bag must never exceed 40 x 20 x 25 cm, including handles and wheels.
How much does Ryanair charge if my carry-on bag is too large?
Passengers carrying an oversized bag will be charged a fee of between €70 and €75 to place it in the aircraft hold. This fee is payable at the boarding gate.
Did you know that Ryanair pays its employees a bonus to detect oversized bags?
Yes. We suspect other low-cost airlines also use these practices, although they may not have officially communicated them.
The author recently had an incident with Norwegian Airlines, where attendants scrupulously checked each bag with a remarkable ferocity, which not only which caused a stir among passengers who were forced to pay for bags they had previously flown with without problems, but also delay and stress.
So, if you want to be on the safe side and really travel cheaply, don’t exceed the size of your carry-on bag by even an inch.
According to Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary, boarding delays are often due to the need to relocate oversized carry-on bags to the hold. This new measure is supposed to speed up the process, which, frankly, we highly doubt.
Other Ryanair baggage allowances
In addition to the free baggage allowance which fits under the seat in front of you, Ryanair offers other fares that allow larger bags.
- Checking in a 55x40x20 cm cabin bag with a maximum weight of 10 kilos costs between €6 and €36 at the time of booking.
- Checking in luggage up to 23 kilos costs up to €50 at the time of booking.
Cities with Ryanair flights to Malaga
Ryanair operates flights to Malaga (AGP) from numerous European cities.
- UK: London (Stansted, Luton), Dublin, Manchester, East Midlands, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bournemouth
- Germany: Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden, Frankfurt-Hahn, Münster, Nuremberg
- Netherlands: Amsterdam, Eindhoven
- Belgium: Brussels
- To find the most up-to-date list of cities with direct flights, you can visit the official Ryanair website
Ryanair at Malaga airport
Irish low cost airline Ryanair is currently moving more passengers at Malaga airport than any other airline.
The Costa del Sol airport is one of the pillars of Ryanair’s activity in Spain. In numbers, in 2024 the airline handled 7.6 million passengers at Malaga airport, which corresponds to a share of 30.5% of the total number of passengers arriving for their holidays on the Costa del Sol.
For the summer season 2025 (from the end of April to the last weekend in October) they expect to reach a passenger figure of around six million. This is an increase of 7%.
Other Ryanair news
Ryanair does not accept electronic boarding passes for these destinations
Alarm bells have also been ringing with this recent headline. On the one hand, it is true that the airline intends to definitively eliminate the physical boarding pass from May 2025 onwards.
Mobile boarding passes can now be used in almost all airports. However, there are countries that are not yet suitable for this service. For this reason, Ryanair has informed passengers flying with the company to Turkey, Morocco and Triana (Albania) have to print out the boarding pass before.
You do not have a printer to have a paper boarding pass? According to the airline, users can go to the check-in desk and ask for a print-out. However, the airline will charge between 20 and 30 euros per passenger for that service.
The most controversial airline
Ryanair’s track record is peppered with allegations, scandals and complaints. In fact, from 2013 to 2019 it was rated by passengers as the worst airline in Europe. Ryanair is known to make constantly headlines and Google searches, which generates continuous free publicity.
We just recently mentioned also that now Ryanair bans water bottles on board. A supposed solution with the excuse of avoiding drunk passengers.
Have you ever flown with Ryanair? How was your experience?
