Luana Botas was charged £55 at Budapest airport because her daughter's hard-shell case exceeded Ryanair's 40x30x20 cm dimension limit, according to multiple reports. The case measured 48x26x33 cm. Ryanair's website states that children aged 2-11 can bring a Trunki or case of similar measurements, despite exceeding the 40x30x20 cm dimensions, reports said. The airline increased the size allowed for the free underseat bag to 40x30x20 cm as of last year. Ryanair's sizers are bigger than the permitted dimensions, a Ryanair spokesperson said. "People should avoid Ryanair's high fees for oversized bags. They can do so by simply travelling with bags that meet our agreed dimensions. Our sizers are bigger than our permitted dimensions, so if that the bag fits in the sizer, it gets on, if it doesn't, it gets charged," the spokesperson said. Ryanair charges £70-£75 for oversized bags at the gate, according to its website.
Other airlines have different baggage allowances. Wizz Air also charges for items larger than 40x30x20 cm, reports said. British Airways and Jet2 offer a 10kg cabin bag measuring 45x36x20 cm as standard. easyJet allows a free cabin bag up to 15kg measuring 45x36x20 cm, but it must fit under the seat. According to Daily Mail - Home, Andrew Harrison-Chinn described the wording around what is included in a fare as often catching people out, with terms like 'small bag', 'basic' or 'priority' varying significantly between airlines.
The wording that catches people out most often is around what’s actually 'included' in a fare. Terms like 'small bag', 'basic' or 'priority' sound straightforward, but they vary significantly between airlines.
A broader pattern of complaints has emerged. A family of four was allegedly charged £400 for oversized bags on a Ryanair flight, according to a poster on Which? Travel Facebook page. The specific dimensions of the family's bags that led to the alleged charge are unknown. It is also unclear whether Luana Botas received a refund or further clarification from Ryanair. How common such baggage fee disputes are with Ryanair remains unknown, as does the exact wording of Ryanair's policy regarding children's Trunki cases. There are no known pending legal actions or regulatory reviews regarding Ryanair's baggage policies.
People should avoid Ryanair's high fees for oversized bags. They can do so by simply travelling with bags that meet our agreed dimensions. Our sizers are bigger than our permitted dimensions, so if that the bag fits in the sizer, it gets on, if it doesn't, it gets charged.