Ryanair Baggage, Cancellation & Seat Policy: Complete Guide

Ryanair Baggage Policy

Ryanair has one of the most restrictive — and profitable — baggage policies in aviation. Understanding it before booking is essential to avoid expensive surprises at the airport.

What is free: One small personal item per passenger (40 cm × 20 cm × 25 cm) that fits under the seat in front of you. This is your only free baggage allowance on basic fares.

Cabin bag (carry-on): A standard cabin bag (55 cm × 40 cm × 20 cm, up to 10 kg) is included only in Priority and Plus bundles, or can be purchased separately. The cost varies by route and season but typically runs €6–€25 per flight when pre-purchased online. If you bring a carry-on without having paid for it, you will be charged at the gate — typically €30–€50 per bag.

Checked baggage:

• 10 kg checked bag: €8–€25 per flight (pre-purchased online)
• 20 kg checked bag: €15–€35 per flight (pre-purchased online)
• At the airport/gate: €30–€60 per bag

Bags over 20 kg incur an overweight fee. The maximum checked bag weight is 32 kg. Ryanair does not accept individual bags over 32 kg.

Cancellation and Change Policy

Ryanair has notoriously strict cancellation rules:

• Standard/Value fares: Non-refundable. Changes allowed for a fee (€45–€115 per person depending on timing and route) plus any fare difference.
• Plus fare: One free flight change allowed per booking. Travel credit for cancellations.
• FlexiPlus: Two free flight changes, priority boarding included, and a travel credit if cancelled.

Ryanair does not observe a standard 24-hour free cancellation policy — their terms are governed by EU law (Regulation 261/2004) rather than US DOT rules. Under EU regulations, if Ryanair cancels a flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund or rebooking at no charge.

Seat Selection

Seat selection costs €4–€15 per person per flight depending on seat type and booking timing. Exit row seats (extra legroom) cost €10–€30 per person per flight. Without selecting, Ryanair auto-assigns seats at check-in, which may result in your group being separated. Priority boarding (which includes overhead bin access for a carry-on) costs €4–€12 extra.

Priority Boarding and Bundles

Ryanair sells a 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' option that includes early boarding and a carry-on bag — often the most cost-effective way to bring a standard cabin bag on Ryanair. This typically costs €7–€22 per flight and saves versus buying the bag separately.

Pro Tips for Flying Ryanair

• Always pre-purchase bags online — at-airport fees are dramatically higher. Plan ahead and add bags at the time of initial booking for the lowest prices.
• Use the personal item allowance strategically — a 40 × 20 × 25 cm bag is quite small but workable for weekend trips with careful packing.
• Download the Ryanair app and check in online (opens 60 days before, closes 2 hours before departure for most routes). Checking in at the airport costs €55 per person if you haven't done it online.
• Ryanair flies to secondary airports — London Stansted (STN), not Heathrow; Barcelona Reus, not El Prat; Brussels Charleroi, not Zaventem. Factor in extra transport time and cost.
• Compare the total cost of a Ryanair flight plus bags plus transport to the secondary airport vs. a legacy carrier to a main airport — the gap is often smaller than expected.