new Ryanair raises coming soonThe low-cost airline has announced the introduction of Increases in hand luggage fees, with particular reference to those who choose to add a second bag and select thepriority boarding after having already completed the booking. The decision, according to Ryanair, responds to the need to align the costs to the rates normally applied for boarding bags at the gate.
The change affects all those passengers who choose to add services after purchasing the ticket, an option that will cost much more than including the service at the time of booking.
The change has already generated mixed reactions among the company's customers, who have long been critical of Ryanair's policies regarding additional costs, which are often responsible for a considerable difference between the initial price of the ticket and the price actually paid.
Ryanair Baggage: What's New in the Rules
The new changes concern only the operations carried out after booking. Ryanair has confirmed that the price for adding a second piece of hand luggage at the time of booking will remain unchanged, but will grow for those who choose to include the service later. This strategy aims to encourage passengers to complete all the necessary operations during the initial booking phase, simplifying pre-boarding procedures and reducing management times at the airport.
Currently, the cost of a Ryanair ticket includes only one piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 40x20x25 cm, which must be checked before arrival at the airport to avoid additional charges. second hand baggage, to be included with priority boarding, can have maximum dimensions of 55x40x20 cm and a weight of up to 10 kg. The cost of this service, when requested at the time of booking, varies between 6 and 36 euros, depending on the route and the time of year. Now, those who add the second hand luggage after booking or at the airport will have to pay a higher fee, which could reach up to 60 euros.
Ryanair: the reasons behind the increase
Ryanair justified these increases with the need to harmonize the rates for additional baggage to the practices applied for checked baggage at the gate. This type of increase is not new to the company, which has always charged higher costs for any operation or change made after the initial booking. For example, requesting a new copy of the boarding pass at the airport can cost up to 20 euros, while check-in at the airport can reach 55 euros.
The new fares reflect a framework already consolidated by Ryanair, which tends to discourage post-booking transactions through the application of additional costs. Adding a 10 kg bag to be checked in, which costs between 11,99 and 29,99 euros if requested during booking, can cost between 23,99 and 40 euros if added later. Similarly, for bags over 20 kg, the rates can go from an initial cost of 18,99 – 59,99 euros to an increase of between 44,99 and 59,99 euros per flight.
From a strategic point of view, the choice to increase the rates for post-booking changes responds to a logic of resource optimization and cost containment. By reducing operations at the airport, the company aims to speed up boarding procedures and limit the use of ground staff, which translates into potential savings on operating costs. According to Ryanair, this should lead to a greater efficiency and the ability to keep ticket prices competitive.
Ryanair increases: passengers protest
Le passenger reactions were not long in coming. Ryanair has long been the target of criticism from travellers precisely because of the numerous additional charges that increase the final price of the ticket compared to what was initially advertised. Social media, in particular, have become fertile ground for complaints from British passengers and others, who complain about the lack of transparency on costs and the continuous increase in ancillary costs.
Many passengers point out how the difficulty in predicting the final cost of the trip negatively impacts the purchasing experience, since the final price of the flight is often significantly higher than the one initially displayed during the booking. Added to this is the irritation of having to carefully monitor all the booking phases to avoid financial surprises.
