The budget airline Ryanair isn’t always wallet-friendly with British travellers continually subjected to hidden fees, including one hefty fee tied to checked luggage
Ryanair‘s no-frills flights are designed to get us from A to B on a budget, but there are some hidden fees that can hit our pockets hard.
One additional cost, which catches travellers unaware, surrounds check-in baggage and the error of bringing it to the gate before departure. To clarify, anyone that books a flight with Ryanair – no matter which class – is automatically entitled to carry a small personal bag free of charge. This personal bag must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 40 x 20 x 25cm.
While convenient, this amount of luggage is not typically enough, so many passengers opt for the next best option. Upgrading your seat class to priority and two cabin bags enables passengers to bring both a small personal bag and a 10kg wheelie bag, measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm. Passengers can also enjoy priority boarding.
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Unfortunately, this class of ticket can sell out quickly, but as an alternative, passengers can buy a checked bag. There are two size options available for checked bags on Ryanair flights – 10kg bags and 20kg bags. Checked baggage must be dropped off at airport check-in desks before security, according to Ryanair’s website. Failure to do so may result in unexpected and significant fines.
Ryanair’s website confirms: “If you bring your check-in bags to the boarding gate, you will have to pay a fee, per bag, to place them in the aircraft hold.” The website continues on to warn passengers: “If you do not pay the gate bag fee you will not be able to board your flight.”
The fees for bringing your bag to the boarding gate can vary depending on the route and travel date. According to the airline website: “Non-priority customers who bring their 10kg Check-in bag to the boarding gate may check it in against payment of a fee of £46 – £60.”
Other Ryanair rules with hidden costs
The airline also notes: “Non-priority customers who have not added a bag to their booking can still purchase a 10kg Check-in bag at the airport bag drop desk for £ 35.99-£40.” Though it’s unclear if this will still be an option once the airline scraps physical check-in desks.
This major move, which was initially supposed to come into place by this summer, will see a switch-over to fully digital boarding passes. While there will be some exceptions, this is set to take effect in November 2025. A total of 40% of Ryanair passengers still opt for physical boarding passes, the new policy will also signal an end to one of the airline’s most notoriously inconveniences: the £55 airport check-in fee.
There is one other hidden fee that often catches Ryanair passengers unaware, resulting in a hefty charge of £100. This is the missed departure fee that Ryanair charges passengers who have not checked in at least 40 minutes before their scheduled departure time.
The fee is meant to deter late check-ins at the airport and also applies to late-arriving passengers who wish to be added to a later flight. Only passengers who arrive less than 40 minutes before their departure or up to one hour after a missed departure are subject to this fee.