Ryanair, a leading European budget carrier, has rolled out some key changes concerning what you can bring onboard, starting in September. They’ve bumped up the size of the free “personal bag” you’re allowed, which seems to be keeping pace with where things are generally heading in the airline world, all while sticking to their low-cost, efficient model.
Larger Free Personal Bag Allowance
Starting September 4, 2025, if you’re flying Ryanair, you get to bring a free personal bag that can measure up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. The airline put out a statement saying this is a pretty significant jump – around 33% bigger than what’s often considered the standard size (40 x 30 x 15 cm) in the European Union for free cabin baggage. Just remember, this bag needs to fit snugly under the seat right in front of you.
Now, if you’re someone who needs to pack a bit more, Ryanair also lets you bring a bigger bag (up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm). To do this, though, you’ll need to snag their Priority Boarding service. This means you can bring an extra bag and stash it in the overhead bins, which gives you a bit more travel flexibility, generally speaking.
Alignment with Industry Standards
These new size limits actually fall in line with what the Airlines for Europe (A4E) association has suggested – they’ve said a personal item should be at least 40 x 30 x 15 cm. A4E wants everyone on board with these guidelines by the end of summer 2025, and they’re giving airlines the leeway to offer even larger sizes, something Ryanair has opted to do with this update. In fact, Ryanair let people know about this change back in July 2025, so passengers were prepared for it.
European Parliament Pushes for Harmonized Rules
The European Parliament is also looking into hand luggage rules, trying to make sure they’re consistent and fair across all airlines. Recently, MEPs voted to support a part of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation. This would guarantee that everyone can bring one free personal bag (40 x 30 x 15 cm) *and* one small piece of hand luggage (weighing up to 7 kg, with total dimensions under 100 cm). The goal here is transparency, getting rid of unfair extra fees, and making the rules the same for everyone flying around Europe.
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However, bear in mind that this isn’t set in stone just yet. It still needs to be approved in a full session of the European Parliament. After that, they’ll need to have talks with both the Council of the EU and the European Commission. If it all gets approved, it could make Ryanair’s updated policy a more solid part of EU-wide travel regulations.
Ryanair’s Crackdown on Oversized Baggage
To make sure everyone plays by the rules, Ryanair is tweaking how they reward their staff. CEO Michael O’Leary has said they’re boosting the bonuses for ground staff who spot cabin baggage that’s too big at the boarding gates. Come November 2025, the bonus for each oversized bag found will go up from €1.50 to €2.50, and they’re even getting rid of the old monthly limit of €80 per employee. This change kicks in with the winter season and shows that Ryanair is serious about sticking to its cabin baggage rules, making things efficient and fair for all passengers.
What This Means for Travelers
Ryanair’s updated hand luggage policy ultimately gives passengers a bit more breathing room with a larger free personal bag, while still nudging those who need more space to purchase Priority Boarding. The alignment with the A4E recommendations, alongside the European Parliament’s ongoing work, points towards a move toward more uniform rules in the airline world. Travelers should probably double-check their bag dimensions to avoid surprise fees, and perhaps take advantage of those slightly more generous size allowances.
If you want the nitty-gritty details on Ryanair’s policies or want to check out those Priority Boarding subscriptions, head over to Ryanair’s official website. For updates on what’s happening with EU regulations, keep tabs on announcements from the European Parliament.