Ryanair baggage policies

In general, intra-European air carriers (if Dublin is actually European, but that's a separate topic) have had a reputation for rather strictly enforcing their excess baggage/carry-on rules. Unlike some airlines elsewhere. It's rumored that's how they augment the old bottom line, by enforcing their costly excess baggage rules.
I have no recent experience on RyanAir. Hopefully someone with recent experience on RyanAir will answer.

My experience is that yes, they do enforce it. To take it further, they tend to enforce baggage limits more in the UK and Ireland, maybe a bit less the further south you go, almost never in the far reaches.

While many complain, lets face it, rules are rules, if you are paying well south of a $100 to fly, expect that there are some catches. If you want to fly and get freebies, pay $200 to $500 to put your mind at ease. They do not hide their limits, everyone on here that complains can cite them verbatim.

At the gate, you will encounter either a line to slide your bag into a box then onto a scale, or a sharp eyed gate attendant will call people over for checks. You mention the size, but also look at the weight, thats 22 lbs, not much, my bag is rarely under that. Also note that you are allowed one bag, they do now allow a very small item as well, but very small...not a bookbag or computer bag.

My point is that I consider the price to fly Ryanair to be the ticket, all the taxes and fees, and a checked bag. If it is still way less than EasyJet or other carriers, then great, if not, take the other deal.

I guarantee that you will NOT be allowed on with those bags! Although Ryanair has relaxed some of it's rigid rules - you are now allowed to carry on a small hangbag - the size and weight of the carry on suitcase is strictly enforced. And you will pay dearly if you wait until you reach the airport to address the issue!!

Dan,

In my experience, RyanAir DO enforce their baggage policies to the letter, both in terms of size and weight. If you're even slightly beyond the allowed limit, you'll likely be nicked with a substantial charge.

Stand and watch at a Ryan gate for ten minutes and watch the zoo and subsequent wailing of the 'almost' people.

In line at Ryan Air I witnessed two young ladies who realized they were over the weight limit start taking clothes out of their baggage and put on numerous layers, including jackets (about five layers each) to get under the limit. So yes, they do enforce it.

I guess you haven't seen this video
http://youtu.be/4OO_zUw8AiA

(It is a group of girls putting on layers and layers of clothes in order to get their bag to fit in the ryanair sizer)

They charge extra for using the mastercard.

There is a musical description on youtube of the type of flight at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_ukRbgnZQ Be aware that not all of the video is suitable for office or family viewing.

My husband I and flew Ryanair last June from Dublin to London at the end of our RS tour. We had heard the horror stories and were concerned. We both travel with a RS roll aboard carry-on luggage and they were pretty stuffed after two weeks in Ireland. We had NO trouble at all. They put the pieces on the scale and each of them were a couple of pounds over the limit and the desk clerk just smiled and handed us our documents and we were off to wait for our plane. We did have to stand in a pretty long line, so I had the opportunity to watch lots of people with carry-on luggage check in before us. There did not seem to be any problem for anyone. Good luck, hope your experience will be an easy as our was.