Ryanair flights within Italy

I haven’t flown RyanAir. Here’s their baggage allowance:
Suitcase is 20cm depth making it one and a fraction less than most US carriers.
https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/categories/12489112419089-Bag-Rules#:~:text=You%20must%20adhere%20strictly%20to,of%20a%20gate%20bag%20fee.

Or you can take the train, that way you don't have to worry about luggage size.

I just flew Ryanair from Brindisi ( not far from Bari) to Trieste, Italy last month. I used to live and work in the UK and flew Ryanair often internally in Europe so I am familiar with its strict and quirky rules. They have increasingly reduced the size of carry on bags over the years. They are very strict about that sizing. I have the small sized RS two wheeled carry on and I knew rhat would not fit with the new regulations. I also have a small travel pro two wheeler and it is much bigger than my RS bag so I am sure it will not fit. I used to always take my carryon onboard with me but in light of reduced sizing requirements, this September trip was the first time I actually checked a bag with Ryanair. Even with paying to check the bag I felt the cost of the ticket was still quite reasonable and Ryanair's schedules are convenient and they do have a good on time record. I bought the option that allowed me to also choose my seat. Seating is definitely not roomy. The inflight experience is one big sales promotion after another but the flight from Rome to Bari is a relatively short one. Nothing is free. I suggest paying to check your bag if Ryanair's schedule to Bari meets your needs. I know it defeats the purpose of travelling light with a carry on only but the Bari airport is not a huge one and it shouldn't take too much time to retrieve your bag from baggage claim. Since you are coming from Rome you will not have to pass through immigration in Bari. Just be sure to keep all valuables and meds in a small carry on bag that will meet their under the seat sizing requirements.

Pat-
Are the cabin bins on ryanair smaller than what is found on US carriers 737s?

Never been on ryanair so wonder if the size restrictions are due to the fact the bins really are smaller, or are the size regulations just revenue generators?

Size regulations are great revenue generators. Basically Ryanair will sell you a basic ticket with no services, almost anything then will come as an extra and they will be very strict with baggage size. Don't assume you can bend the rules: read very carefully (for example, read the check-in rules) and stick to them literally.

If the TravelPro bag is larger than the limit allows— it likely will also weigh more than the 22-pound limit once filled with 3 weeks worth of belongings.

If that’s the case, the train makes more sense at $40 for the 4-hr Rome to Bari trip as you won’t be saving any time by flying on top of not saving any money.

There’s nothing to be gained by flying.

www.TheTrainline.com

2 airlines operate flights Rome → Bari: Ryanair and ITA

See their baggage size and weight policies below

I don't know about ITA, but with Ryanair don't expect to bypass these restrictions. If at the airport your bag exceeds the size allowance they will be happy to charge you a fee that can exceed the initial price of the ticket

Ryanair: https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/categories/12489112419089-Bag-Rules

ITA: https://www.ita-airways.com/en_it/fly-ita/baggage/hand-baggage.html

One thing not to do with RyanAir is to fail to follow their baggage size requirements to the letter. Whatever size they allow is as big as you should have -- or be ready to pay.

Thanks for the feedback. Before posting, I had already researched Ryanair's baggage restrictions. I've never flown them before and wondered how strict they are. When buying the ticket, I booked the option with priority boarding + carryon bag. Now I wonder if I can apply that extra cost to a checked bag. I'll have to ask them.
I had actually preferred to take the train from FCO to Bari, but the schedule didn't work for us.
Looking forward to my first trip to Puglia!

Be sure to know your check in requirements, as well as the baggage requirements. I tried to check in within the online check in time period. The website would not accept my booking number. I tried many times and it wouldn't work. I stood in the 30 minute line to check in before my flight and they charged me 70 Euros to check in, even though their website failed me. I disputed this with the attendant, but I was unsuccessful. What a bad time to surprise me with that extra charge! I had no choice at that point but to disgruntingly pay the fee.

@ LAKERTONE40
Thanks for the heads-up about checkin. I had no idea!!!

I booked the option with priority boarding + carryon bag. Now I wonder
if I can apply that extra cost to a checked bag.

So you will only be allowed to have a carry on bag.

The list and price of Ryanair fees for all the options you add after the initial booking is here:

https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/help-centre/fees

Also note that Ryanair's corporate policy is to push you to buy additional services and options, on board you will be encouraged to buy, even on a 45 minute flight because part of the cabin crew's remuneration comes from onboard sales and they have sales targets to reach at the end of the day.
So any drink, even water, snacks or sandwiches are chargeable

I agree the train may have been a better option, but water under the bridge.

As for RyanAir, I have flown them a number of times, including in Italy, but only consider them if the trip by train is 6 hours or more, or travel would involve a ferry.

I learned long ago that the best option for Ryanair is to purchase the "Plus" option. That gives you a 20 kilo checked bag, a reserved seat, and airport check-in. The 20 kilo checked bag because I am always on that ragged edge of 22 lbs, and airport check-in since things happen, and I do not want to rely on my phone only. Ryanair does check both size and weight frequently, seen it done a number of ways, and I suppose at some airports they are lax, but do not rely on it.

As for the limits being a revenue generator, the basic ticket is cheap, too cheap really. The limits are clearly defined, the "revenue generation" really only occurs with people who do not take the time to understand the limits, or are trying to get by cheap. A ticket with the Plus option is still cheap, and often still less than any other carrier.

I probably should have made it clear in my original post that we are flying into FCO from the U.S. that very morning. That makes the Ryanair flight actually more convenient than taking the train into Termini and waiting 4 hours until a departure to Bari. I would have preferred a relaxing, scenic train ride if the schedule had aligned. I hope this sheds more light into why the flight rather than the train.

@JoLui - Good to know about onboard charges, thanks.
Thanks again to all of you for your Ryanair expertise. This first time may be my last! :)

I probably should have made it clear in my original post that we are flying into FCO from the U.S. that very morning.
Now I wonder if I can apply that extra cost to a checked bag.

Sure hope your inbound flight is on time and you gave yourself enough time to retrieve your bags and then check them in for the ryanair flight.

Will Rome be your first Schengen stop?

I probably should have made it clear in my original post that we are flying into FCO from the U.S. that very morning. That makes the Ryanair flight actually more convenient than taking the train into Termini and waiting 4 hours until a departure to Bari. I would have preferred a relaxing, scenic train ride if the schedule had aligned. I hope this sheds more light into why the flight rather than the train.

Yo - I think your plan is basically sound, as long as you leave enough time (that's many hours) for the connection.

I too will be flying in to FCO from the US, arriving early morning, with my actual destination as Bari. I'll be booking a separate ticket to Bari (allowing 3-5 hours for my connection, with all the Schengen entry formalities and the big, chaotic Rome airport, so I don't miss my onward flight to Bari). But I will be flying on ITA (formerly Al Italia) rather than Ryanair (ITA has four nonstops per day from FCO-BRI, and prices not much higher than Ryanair once you figure in all the extras like checked bags). You can also pay up a bit more for a flexible ticket so in the event you miss the ticketed departure they can probably get you on a later flight to BRI same day. The ITA options looked a lot better to me than Ryanair (that said, I will be flying Ryanair on my way out of Bari at the end of my trip, since they're they only airline that offers a nonstop to my next destination; I'll pay for their options).

Bottom line: I agree it makes no sense to drag yourself into Rome, and then get on a not-short train ride to Bari if you have just flown half-way around the world and you are already at FCO and just want to continue on to BRI. I did look at the train options and then quickly went back to looking for a flight from FCO to BRI. Works better for me - I'll be in Bari in time for lunch. I just have to kill a few hours at FCO which will be tolerable. Just make sure you have enough time between your flights.

Yes, we only do carryon bags on the international flights and won't have to wait for luggage.

Worth noting: What passes muster with one airline for a carry-on bag is not necessarily acceptable as a carry-on bag for any other airlines. You need to be totally on top of the differences or it will come back to bite you.

Ryanair is pretty stingy with their allowable size (and weight), and they are notorious for very strictly enforcing their stated limits - know those limits and expect them to be enforced without exception or any wiggle room at all.

If you are flying from the US to FCO on a major US airline (say, United or American or Delta), a carry on that quickly and easily breezes by the US gate agents for those airlines, without the slightest friction, will usually (in fact, almost always) fail the sizer test when you go to board that Ryanair flight. Take this to heart and know exactly what the limits are for the strictest flight on your itinerary. The small size (and low weight) limits for low-cost European airlines really astonish many Americans when they first come up against them. You should experience that shock now, when you are making plans, rather than at the gate check area when you go to board that last flight (look around you and observe the people freaking out and desperately trying and usually failing to re-arrange their things to get below the enforced limits...don't be that person).

If you follow Ryanair on X you’ll see that their attitude to complaints is to make a joke of them. Their view is very much ‘we offer the cheapest flights and you’ll put up with anything to save money.’ And they’re right. The business model works really well for them.

10kg ( 22lb) carry-on size limit
55cm=21.6"
40cm= 15.7"
20cm+7.8

Personal bag size
40cm=15.7"
25cm-9.8"
20cm-7.8"
https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/articles/12888036565521-Ryanair-s-Bag-Policy

Presumably you are aware of this, but just to make it convenient for others thought it might be helpful to know what the ryanair limits are.

1RYANAIR GROUP ANNUAL REPORT 2024
FINANCIAL
SUMMARY
INCOME STATEMENT MAR 31, 2024
€’m
Scheduled Revenue 9145
Ancillary Revenue 4299
Total Revenue 13444
https://investor.ryanair.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ryanair-2024-Annual-Report.pdf
With bag fees etc., making up one-third of total revenue, do not expect any mercy. It is what makes them profitable.