Has Ryanair Changed Cabin Bag Policy

So, you’ve booked a Ryanair flight, and you’re wondering if you’ll need to perform contortionist-level gymnastics to fit your “personal item” under the seat. Spoiler alert: The airline has indeed changed its cabin bag policy again, and it’s the kind of update that makes you want to hug your tiny backpack. Let’s untangle this mess without needing a degree in airline physics.

The Great Shrink Ray

Ryanair now allows two types of bags, but only one gets a free ride. Your small personal item (like a handbag or laptop bag) is still free, as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. The catch? It must measure exactly 40x20x25 cm—roughly the size of a shoebox that’s been on a diet.

If you try to bring a larger “cabin bag” (the classic wheelie suitcase), you’ll have to pay for Priority Boarding starting around €6 to €12. Without it, your wheelie gets gate-checked into the hold, which is basically a one-way trip to Baggage Purgatory. Expect to see your suitcase again in a different country—or possibly next Tuesday.

The Science of Squeezing

I tested this policy on a recent flight to Lisbon, and my laptop bag barely passed the Ryanair “bag sizer” test. The sizer is a metal box at the gate that looks like a medieval torture device for luggage. I had to shove my bag in like I was stuffing a Thanksgiving turkey—and it fit, but only after I removed my phone, a snack, and my dignity.

Surprising fact: Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, once joked he’d charge passengers for using the toilet. This bag policy feels like a spiritual cousin to that idea. You aren’t paying for a seat; you’re paying for the privilege of breathing near your belongings.

Ryanair Cabin Baggage Allowance Changes | What’s the New Limit?

What’s Actually Changed?

The biggest shift happened in 2023, when Ryanair introduced a new “family-friendly” rule: parents now get to bring a baby car seat for free (hooray). But for the rest of us, the policy now explicitly states that your “personal item” cannot be a roller bag—it must be a soft bag that squishes. If you show up with a hard-shell suitcase, even if it’s tiny, they’ll make you pay.

Think of it as airline theater: you now face a Broadway-style performance of bag-wrangling at the gate. The most important tip is to measure your bag before leaving home, because Ryanair’s staff are trained to spot a 41cm bag with the eagle-eyed precision of a velociraptor.

Ryanair announces change to its cabin bag policy for second time this

The Bottom Line (and the Side Pocket)

Here’s the punchline: Ryanair’s policy changes are designed to make you pay for Priority Boarding or to check your bag. If you pack light—like, surprisingly light—you can still fly for peanuts. I’ve seen people bring a tote bag that held just a phone charger, a passport, and sheer defiance.

My advice: invest in a bag that exactly meets the 40x20x25 cm size. I bought one online for €15, and it’s become my travel BFF. Also, wear your heaviest jacket onto the plane—Ryanair hasn’t figured out how to charge you for body heat. Yet.

In the end, you’ll survive. Just remember: your carry-on is now a citizen of a micro-nation, and you are its anxious ambassador. Safe travels, and may your bag sizer test be merciful.