RyanAir cabin bag changes

Paying for priority boarding will simply give you priority boarding. If you want extra bags you'll need to pay for them.

Ryanair is cheap but it's cheap for a reason. They make money on the extras that people are willing to pay for and if they can make money on something they'll certainly not give it away for free.

Our suitcases are definitely too wide (nine inches instead of seven
inches) to fit into the overhead compartments.

I'm not exactly clear about your question but it sounds like you're thinking that by purchasing priority boarding that your oversized bags will be allowed cabin storage? Pretty sure that's not the case as, the way I read it, the bags that apply to priority boarding have to be within carry-on size/weight limitations to begin with. As there isn't overhead room for every passenger to be able to store a legal-sized wheelie, the bags of those who didn't purchase a priority ticket - and may be left with no cabin storage room - have their bags offloaded to the hold.

That's the way I'd take it, anyway. If your bags do not meet the cabin size/weight requirements, you'll have to check them.

Since you bag is larger than the limits, you must check, Priority Boarding will not allow you a bigger bag. Keep in mind that you also likely will not be less than the 22 lb limit either.

Right now, RyanAir's baggage policy is changing, but after January, here is what it appears to be:

Priority boarding will allow you to take on a wheelie bag within the limits and one small personal item, then check up to three bags of 20 kilos at 25 euro each.

Regular boarding will allow you to take on the personal item, then your small carryon (wheelie bag) will be gate checked at no charge. You can also check 3 bags up to the 20 kilos at 25 euro as well.

RyanAir and all budget airlines, as well as many traditional airlines clamped down on carry ons and charging for bags long ago. RyanAir is typically more strict in enforcing the rules. Having these limits cuts fuel cost and speeds boarding and deplaning, allowing them to have their low prices. Basically their pricing model is to offer rock bottom ticket cost long in advance, increase ticket cost as date approaches or you want to fly prime times, then charge for extras. (Bags, Boarding Passes, snacks, early boarding, etc.) A number of people get really bent out of shape because even though they can read the rules, they think they can get away with extra bags and weight, and they don't, and pay the penalty.

I also found this confusing. The way I read it, Priority Boarding now allows you to check a bag for free (rather than carrying it on).

But my sense is that the free checked bag must meet the size & weight restrictions for a carry on. Our bags are also a little too wide, so rather than buy new luggage or burn more brain cells, I just paid the bag fee.

I do have another ticket to purchase soon, so if someone has recent experience to the contrary I would appreciate your thoughts.

The way I read it, Priority Boarding now allows you to check a bag for
free (rather than carrying it on).

Charlene, I'm not seeing that anywhere at all. This was the page about priority boarding I referenced:

https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/plan-trip/travel-extras/priority-boarding

They are pretty clear that this benefit only applies to carryon bags that meet the cabin requirements and will fit in the overheads. Am I missing something?

Part of what is confusing is they changed some rules back in November, and now more will change in January.

All Priority Boarding gets you at the moment is that you will be guaranteed that your 10 kg bag will be in the Cabin, with regular boarding, if the bins fill up, then your 10 kg bag goes in the hold at no charge. The change in January is not much more, just that if you have regular boarding, your 10 kg bag will go in the hold at no charge regardless, priority boarding stays the same.

The change in November simplified the checked bag policy, they used to have different tiers based on weight and size, now it is just a flat 25 euro for up to 20 kilos.

My advice would be the same as before: You are getting a cheap base ticket, don't be cheap and risk it, pay for a checked bag at the time of booking. The typical light traveler going for 2 weeks from the US will have a "carry-on" greater than 10 kg and a daybag bigger than the personal item.

My only concern is keeping the daybag small enough to not have to go in the hold, to avoid that, I would probably take the priority boarding (5 euro), Check my main bag, then if needed, put my daybag in the overhead.

All Priority Boarding gets you at the moment is that you will be
guaranteed that your 10 kg bag will be in the Cabin, with regular
boarding, if the bins fill up, then your 10 kg bag goes in the hold at
no charge.

To further clarify: bag size as well as weight applies to be considered "cabin baggage". Size of carryon and personal item (small bag) must fall within these guidelines:

One small bag e.g. handbag, laptop bag etc. not exceeding 35cm x 20cm x 20cm
One cabin bag, not exceeding 55cm x 40cm x 20cm in size and 10kg in weight

If your large bag exceeds either the 55cm x 40cm x 20cm in size or 10kg in weight, you have to check it for a fee whether you have priority boarding or not.

The bag weighs less than 10 kg, but the width is 25 cm (instead of the mandatory 20 cm). At any rate, I’m seeing that I should pay to check it.

I think Paul solved my mystery. I had noted the November Ryan Air policies last fall. I didn’t realize they made more changes for January. I did purchase priority boarding & paid my bag fee & still consider this a bargain.

Our suitcases are definitely too wide (nine inches instead of seven
inches) to fit into the overhead compartments.

RyanAir's maximum carry-on size is 55 x 40 x 20 cm. The width, 40 cm, wide is almost 16 inches. 20 cm or 7-7/8 inches is the thickness. Is that the dimension you can't meet? You must have rigid bags. Too bad you don't have soft bags, because if not stuffed they would probably squish to fit the max dimension.