Lifestyle

in at the airport than online’ I was charged a higher fee to check in at the airport than to do so online by Ryanair

By Ethan Blake 4 min read

‘Ryanair charged me more to check

Understanding Why It Happens

We’ve all been there. You’re checking in for your Ryanair flight and suddenly, the price to check-in your luggage seems a little steep. Let’s explore why this happens.

Just like any other airlines, budget airline Ryanair adheres to its policies about baggage allowance and charges, especially for checked luggage. Their rates vary based on the weight of the luggage and the time of booking.

Ryanair encourages passengers to travel light by offering cheaper options for smaller baggage. You’ll notice hefty fees if you’re checking in heavy luggage, or adding it last minute. But don’t worry; we are here to help you understand the breakdown.

Let’s assume you booked a flight and upon checking in, you realized that the charge for your 20 kg bag was more than the fare of your flight.

The fare for your flight was only £20.
You decided to add a 20 kg bag for your trip.
Ryanair charged you £25 for the bag.
You added the bag at check-in rather than while booking the flight.
Due to the late addition, the price was higher than expected.
Your baggage fee ended up being more than your flight fare.

How To Avoid Higher Charges

To avoid surprises when traveling, it’s important to be familiar with the airline’s baggage policy. Remember, knowledge is power.

Airlines, including Ryanair, have all their policies regarding baggage clearly outlined on their websites. This information includes specifications about allowable dimensions, weight limitation, and most importantly — costs.

Reading these rules before flying not only saves time but also money. So how can one evade high luggage prices?

Consider this scenario: You know you will need to take a 20 kg suitcase with you on your trip.

Research Ryanair’s bag policy before the flight.
You find out that a 20 kg bag costs less upon booking than at check-in.
In order to save money, you purchase luggage allowance while buying your ticket, not later.
This way, you will pay around £25 instead of the extra charges of letting the system auto-allocate it for you.
You avoid surprise fees at the airport.
The cost of your baggage is now considerably less than your flight fare!

Understanding Baggage Types

All airlines offer varying options regarding luggage types for passengers. Each comes with its own rules and fees, making it crucial for one to understand them all.

The more familiar you are with these categories, the easier it will be for you to control your expense on luggage drastically.

Ryanair passengers have three main baggage options – “small bag”, “large cabin bag”, and “checked bag”. Let’s dive deeper into what each means.

Assume you’re flying from London to Dublin: using the following steps, you can plan out which type of baggage suits best for your travel need.

Understand Ryanair’s baggage categories “Small Bag”, “Large Cabin Bag” and “Checked Bag”.
Evaluate your needs: If you’re only going for two days, a small or large cabin bag should suffice.
If you are staying longer, then checked luggage would be necessary.
Pricing for each category differs and typically, cabin bags have cheaper rates.
Your baggage choice will impact the overall cost of your trip.
Choose wisely to avoid unnecessary fees!

Timing Your Booking

When it comes to flights and related expenses, timing is everything. Booking your baggage at the right time can actually save you a tremendous amount of money.

Timing affects almost all aspects of airline flight fares including checked baggage. Baggage fare particularly skyrockets at peak travel times such as holidays and weekends.

Getting your timing right can be quite strategic. Let’s visualize this:

You plan to fly around Christmas and know Ryanair usually surges their prices during this period.

You book your tickets and luggage allowance in advance when the prices are still low.
As it gets closer to Christmas, luggage rates increase but your price was locked in at booking.
Your advanced planning helps you avoid paying higher fees.
Thus, you’ve successfully reduced the cost of your trip significantly!
This strategy especially pays off during peak travel times.
With smart planning, you won’t be hit by unexpected fees.

Using The Right Luggage

Having appropriate luggage is key when gearing up for any flight. It doesn’t only save time and frustration but could also spare you from extra costs.

Every airline has measurement restrictions, type of suitcase, and weight limits. Sticking within these parameters will help you avoid additional charges on your luggage.

In the case of Ryanair, having the right size and type of luggage plays a significant role. Let’s see how this works:

You have two bag options for your upcoming trip

A small cabin suitcase and a large checked suitcase.
If you pack wisely, you might get all you need into the smaller suitcase.
The smaller suitcase complies with Ryanair’s cabin dimensions and weights and is therefore free of charge.
Choosing the larger one would lead to a fee for checked luggage.
By making the conscious decision to use the smaller bag, you save money.
Being aware and adaptable helps to avoid unnecessary charges.

Summary

In summary, Ryanair, like many other airlines, has a structure that includes various costs. While the nature of these costs may seem perplexing, understanding them makes it easier for passengers to plan effectively. In this Blog we discussed: