Since the policy on AerLingus in coach is 6 kilos we are realistically going to have to check at least my bag. I have to carry another bag with my medical stuff (I'm diabetic) that stays with me all the time. Should we just try to leave room for backpack junk to be shoved in the bag for RyanAir flights, or should we just break down and pay to check one bag all the way? Any experience?
Remember the liquid ban. If you buy toiletries once arriving in EU or anything else liquid, you will need to check it or leave it behind.
This is often overlooked when people arrive and buy toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, etc. You'd have to buy that stuff after every low cost flight, or check it.
Just check a bag. Non-stop flights (in my experience) on RyanAir, EasyJet, Aer Lingus and BabyBMI rarely have troubles with baggage. At the smaller airports where these carriers operate, you may even see your bag on the ramp, loaded onto your flight. How's that for peace of mind? :)
We checked one bag each and took a carry on each on our last trip. Be sure to include all your med on your carry on. My husband did not and our checked bags did not make a connection and we got them the following day. I alway take a change of clothes, underwear, bathing suit, etc in my carry on. I have had my bag not make the connection before. My husband did not, and had to shop for a shirt when we arrived in Rome in Sept. I think he learned from this trip to be prepared in his carryon for emergencies. Be sure to have the address and phone number of where you will be staying in your carry on or pocketbook to give the airlines so they can have your bags shipped to you. Our arrived the following evening and they did call our Rome hotel to say they were runnng late with them.
I've checked a bag with Ryanair, from London to Santander, Spain, with absolutely no problem. I purchased my ticket online and they gave you the option of telling them you were going to check a bag. The charge was less than telling them you were checking it at the airport. Your post is a little confusing, though. If the bag is big enough to need to be checked on Aer Lingus, how could the two bags combined be small enough for Ryanair's requirements?
AerLingus is 6 kilos on your carryon. We went to Germany last year on Delta and our carry-ons were all right around 20 pounds (10 kilos), but I don't think I can shave off 7 pounds to get it on our this flight. If we are checking bags on Aer Lingus, all three of us will definitely have a carry on with entertainment and a change of clothes. My question is, how have other people handled the 6 kilo limit -- even with two bags I can't imagine we will be much over 20 pounds each, but how do we deal with 2 bags on Ryan Air?
Ryanair's carryon restriction, like Delta, is 10 kilos, so you maybe could combine the two bags and carryon with them. Be aware, though, that they charge you heavily if your bag is even slightly overweight. It seems safer just to go ahead and check the bags on Ryanair. Then you could still have your carryon with entertainment, etc., with you.
I don't know about Aer Lingus but RyanAir allows you one ziploc bag (1 liter/1 quart) with small bottles of liquid. I believe the bottles have to be no bigger than 100ml...it's on their website though. So, you CAN take travel sized toothpaste, shampoo, etc. on the plane as long as they all fit in that bag.