Ryanair has revealed a significant alteration to its boarding passes, set to come into effect in May 2025. This crucial change is one of many stringent rules passengers must adhere to when flying with the airline.
From hand luggage restrictions to new boarding pass specifications, failure to comply can result in additional charges at the airport. Therefore, it’s vital to stay informed before booking your Ryanair flights.
Here are three key Ryanair rules passengers need to know before travelling in 2025.
Hand luggage size restrictions.
While Ryanair may be renowned for its often wallet-friendly tickets, it’s not known for its generous hand luggage allowance. Passengers wishing to take more than one small under-seat bag, either in the cabin or as checked luggage, will have to pay extra, reports Dublin Live.
However, clever travellers have discovered a workaround by finding some of the best bags online that also meet the airline’s small hand luggage requirements. Some of these are available for less than €20.
Measuring 40 x 19 x 25cm, the bag fits Ryanair’s small undersea cab bag requirements of 40 x 20 x 25cm, according to the Express.
The brand proudly states: “We specifically designed our Aerolite holdall to measure 40 x 20 x 25cm which is EXACTLY the maximum allowed size you can take for free in the cabin when flying with Ryanair. It is also accepted on virtually all major airlines worldwide; Including easyJet, British Airways, Etihad, Emirates, Delta, Flybe, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Jet2, KLM, Qatar, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic to name just a few! ” Every Ryanair ticket includes a small personal bag allowance, sized 40 x 20 x 25cm, that must fit under the seat ahead – exactly what the Aerolite bag provides. Currently, this handy bag is available for only €13.21.
Over on TikTok, @mypassporttohappy, also known as Ali, shares: “This is the bag that is currently trending on TikTok. So it’s an Amazon bag and it fits perfectly on all flights, so you can use it as a carry-on so that you don’t have to buy extra luggage.”
For those wanting to bring an additional, larger bag, there’s the option of upgrading to a Priority fare with Ryanair, which includes some extra perks and more baggage space. Online, adding Priority and two extra bags costs between €7 and €43, whereas doing it at the check-in desk could cost you from £20 to £38.
If Priority is unavailable or passengers choose to check their bag, they can purchase a 10kg check-in bag. But be warned – if you arrive at the boarding gate with a 10kg bag that hasn’t been pre-booked, you might face a hefty €55 fee if it’s turned away at the gate.
Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary, has announced that by May 2025, paper boarding passes will be a thing of the past as they aim to have all passengers using mobile passes. Currently, passengers can either print their boarding pass or download it on their phone via the Ryanair app, but if you forget to do so before getting to the airport, it’ll cost you €66.
By May 2025, printing a boarding pass at the airport won’t even be an option. “Our goal is to eliminate check-in desks at the airport, just like we’ve done with luggage counters”, O’Leary said.
“Everything will be managed through the app, making the process fully digital and eliminating paper entirely.”
He added: “I’m one of the last remaining people still showing up with my piece of paper It also means, once we get everybody onto the app, nobody will ever again pay for a boarding pass at an airport – the airport check-in fee will be gone. So, I think it will be a smoother, easier journey for everybody.”
Ryanair passengers are advised to arrive at the airport well in advance to navigate through security and reach their boarding gate. The airline recommends that passengers should be present no later than 40 minutes before their scheduled flight departure time, or they may face a missed departure fee of €120.
Passengers who arrive less than 40 minutes before their flight’s departure time could be charged a fee and will need to be rebooked onto a new flight. This fee also applies to those who arrive “up to one hour after flight departure time”.
As per Ryanair’s website, this fee is “also available to customers who arrive at the ticket desk up to an hour after their flight departure to move to the next available flight. The fee is charged per passenger per sector.”
