Ryanair cabin bags

I always try to be smaller rather than take any risks so, obviously, I've never had any problems. However, I have seen the airport staff at Ryanair stop people and check the size of the bags they want to carry on so it is risk that you run.

The airport staff see luggage every day and may recognize certain brands and know the sizes. Sorry I can't be of more help.

If the bags are hard-sided then you definitely run the risk of having to check the bags especially if you are travelling during peak season. My personal experience with RyanAir is that they are more forgiving with soft-sided bags. My husband had a soft-sided bag which technically should have been checked. When we went to check it the baggage person said to just carry it on. We had no problem.

This may be the killer,

"Priority customers can also bring an additional 10kg bag on board which must fit into the baggage sizer (not exceeding 10kg and dimensions 55cm x 40cm x 20cm) and will be stored in the overhead locker."

That's from this information on the Ryanair website.

Last summer I flew Ryanair from Porto to Barcelona. At the time I bought my ticket it was very cheap to get a Plus ticket, so I did that and checked my bag, chose my seat, etc.

There were 2 lines to board in Porto. While in my line to board I noticed several people in the other line with bags that were obviously way too big to carry on. I also saw them pull out their credit cards and pay, to check them I presumed. The fee was £ or € 50.

I don't know if the priority/2 cabin bags (if that option was possible last summer) people were in my line or the other one, but there was a sizer. Scroll down to the Tips in the link for info on what might happen if the bags don't fit.

One more thing. The seats on that plane were the most uncomfortable I have ever had the displeasure of sitting in, and I was on the aisle. I hope your seats are better.

jim,

I've found that RyanAir tends to be very strict with luggage sizes, and those who are over the limit get nicked with a hefty charge. Given the fact you're using hard-sided luggage, you could have a problem as it won't fit the sizer if they decide to check. Of course, they may decide not to check but I wouldn't count on that.

Ryanair is one of those airlines where you really need to read the fine print and make sure you follow all the rules. And if your luggage is even a millimetre larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, expect to have to pay at the gate to check it in.

55 x 20 x 40 cm equals 21.65 x 7.87 x 15.74 inches.
Where they get you most often is on the height. We went from 22 inch carry on's to 21 inch carry on's, and the 21 inchers are actually 22" including the wheels.
I have often flown budget carriers and been hassled by gate agents under pressure to increase revenues by charging for putting the bags into the bottom of the plane. I get on the plane and half the carry on bags are much larger than mine.
Unless an airplane is a commuter type small plane, it has plenty of room overhead for a 21" or 22" rolling bag--both Boeing and Airbus brand jets. I like to think it's a "revenue thing."

As others have mentioned, RyanAir is known for its strict adherence to the size limits it has announced. If your bag is bigger, they will make you pay.

The reason people get all up in arms about RyanAir, is that they are one of the few airlines that states baggage rules, then actually follows them. If they did not, then the chaos seen on US flights would ensue of people hauling on a way oversize "carry-on", a back pack, a computer bag, and something in a shopping bag they picked up along the way.

You have spent too much time worrying about this for the cost, and will continue to worry about the risk of "getting caught". You likely got the ticket for close to nothing, stop being cheap, pay for Priority boarding and pay to check your primary bag. It is a point to point flight, so checking is no issue. In the end, you can rest easy and not risk having to pay much more in penalties.

If it were me, I would not risk it.
I've flown Ryanair about a dozen times in the past year.
Each time I fly Ryanair, I see people get pulled out of line to gate-check their bags that don't quite fit in the sizer.
Yes, they have sizers everywhere - at the check-in and at the gate. They use them!