With priority boarders now accounting for more than half of the total passengers on board Ryanair flights**, many travellers may be left asking if ‘priority’ has now become the majority.
Low-cost airline Ryanair has recently reduced the amount of baggage non-priority travellers can take on board to just one small personal bag*, promising a decrease in boarding delays but a £25 fee if passengers bring a second bag to the gate. Passengers can avoid this fee by paying £6 for the benefits of priority boarding, which also allows a second bag on board.
However, with priority boarders now accounting for more than half of the total passengers on board Ryanair flights**, many travellers may be left asking if ‘priority’ has now become the majority. To help savvy travellers plan ahead and avoid unexpected baggage fees at the airport, Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) has put together a table comparing the priority passes and luggage allowance policies of 10 airlines.
Available in the Know Before You Go Section of the APH website at aph.com/lowcostairlines, the research looks at the hand luggage and priority boarding policies of 10 low-cost airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe and compares the size and weight allowances of luggage permitted for priority and non-priority customers. The research also lists benefits of paying extra for priority boarding and the costs for checking-in luggage before and after the initial time of booking.
Of the 10 airlines researched, two airlines ask that non-priority passengers board an aircraft with one personal bag only: Ryanair and Wizz Air. The personal bag must fit under the seat in front and examples include a handbag, small backpack or laptop bag. Travellers can add a cabin bag to their booking by paying an extra charge of £6 for priority boarding on Ryanair flights or from an additional fee of £4.50 when flying with Wizz Air.
For those travelling for longer than a few days, four airlines allow non-priority passengers to board an aircraft with one personal bag and one cabin bag as standard, including Eurowings and Norwegian Air. easyJet and Jet2 were found the offer the largest allowance for a cabin bag, with maximum dimensions of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and a maximum weight limit of 10kg. Overpackers should make a note to weigh their hand luggage before travelling, since although the majority of airlines provide a weight limit of 10kg, those flying with TUI Airways who have not booked a package holiday are limited to carrying just 5kg of hand luggage.
Travellers who wish to travel with numerous liquids or larger luggage should consider paying the extra fee for hold luggage at the time of booking, since the price of checking-in luggage increases greatly once a flight booking is confirmed. For example, Eurowings doubles the cost for checking-in luggage from £13 to £26 for those who have already confirmed their booking.
For travellers who wish to travel with additional luggage and also fly past airport security, purchasing a priority ticket may prove beneficial and these are offered by nine of the airlines researched. For example, easyJet Plus members who pay an annual fee of £199 are permitted to travel with an extra small personal bag and take advantage of priority boarding and seat selection. Similarly, along with a fast-track security pass and priority boarding, Thomas Cook Airlines’ Priority Package for £10 ensures priority bags are unloaded first onto the baggage belt at the destination airport.
* Information taken from Ryanair’s website in January 2019: www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/Baggage/cabin-bag-policy.
** According to The Telegraph in November 2018: www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/ryanair-baggage-rules-charges-december.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
