Ryanair has announced it will be increasing its checked baggage charges from £10 to £15 as of October 1, while excess baggage fees will rise from £15 to £20 per kilo.
The current checked baggage allowance is for up to three bags per passenger, with a combined weight of 15kg and a fee of £10 for the first bag and £20 for the second and third bags.
For bookings made after October 1, each passenger will be permitted only two bags, but the overall weight allowance will increase to 30kg (15kg per bag). Charges for the first bag will be £15, while the second checked in bag fee will increase from £20 to £35.
The airline stated that the changes were due to a fall in average Ryanair fares by 29 per cent over the past year, from €40 to €32. It also said that the new guidelines were aimed at encouraging passengers to travel with carry on baggage only.
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: “In order to persuade passengers to travel with carry on bags only we are increasing baggage allowances and fees with effect from 1st October. These baggage fees are all avoidable by all passengers who choose to travel with carry on luggage only. Over 70% of Ryanair passengers will be totally unaffected by these changes as they already travel with just one carry on bag, which is free of charge.”
Ryanair is also set to scrap airport check in desks after making online check-in mandatory. Passengers who forget their boarding passes are now charged a fee of £40 passes reissued at the airport. (see online news May 13).
Visit ryanair.com
Report by Sara Turner
