First, let’s rewind. You used to be able to bring a decent-sized rucksack, maybe a small suitcase, and just pretend it definitely fit under the seat. Now? Forget it. Ryanair is now measuring your bag with a steel cage, and EasyJet is using actual lasers (okay, maybe not lasers, but they’re getting scary).
The big news is that both airlines are tightening the screws on the “free” cabin bag. That little bag you thought was fine? It’s now apparently the size of a postage stamp, and they want you to pay a premium for anything bigger. You know the drill: you can still bring a small personal item—like a handbag or a laptop bag—for free. But if you want to bring a larger cabin bag (the kind you roll), you’ll need to buy a priority boarding ticket.
Wait, there’s more! EasyJet recently changed its policy so that any bag that’s bigger than their new, even-smaller sizer (measuring 45 x 36 x 20 cm) now has to go in the hold. Unless, of course, you pay extra. It’s like they’re saying, “Sure, you can bring your luggage, but only if you subscribe to the ‘Plus’ package, which also gets you a complimentary scream as you board.”
The “Paying to Breathe” Club
Let’s be honest: Ryanair and EasyJet are the frenemies of affordable travel. They love you for your wallet, but they secretly hate your suitcase. The new changes mean that if you want to avoid the gate-check lottery, you’ll need to pay an extra £8 to £12 for priority boarding. That’s basically a coffee and a sandwich at the airport—but hey, at least your bag gets to sit with you.
And here’s the kicker: the sizes are different for each airline. Ryanair’s small bag can be 40 x 20 x 25 cm (basically a marshmallow), while EasyJet’s is 45 x 36 x 20 cm (slightly bigger, but still laughably tiny). It’s like trying to pack for a weekend in a shoebox. “Socks? Roll them. Toothbrush? Break it in half. Love? Leave it behind.”
But wait—there’s a cheat code. If you travel with a backpack that’s actually a soft-sided rucksack, you can often squish it into the sizer. Hard-shell cases? Forget it. Those things are designed by the airline CEO’s evil twin. The trick is to buy a bag that’s 1 cm smaller than the limit. Yes, that’s a thing. There are literal Facebook groups dedicated to this.
