Ryanairs

There is one simple way to make sure you don’t end up picking up the wrong luggage

When it comes to selecting luggage, most travellers instinctively opt for black, grey or navy cases. They appear safe, timeless and seem sensible – until you find yourself at the baggage carousel surrounded by numerous other cases that appear identical.

All of a sudden, your case becomes difficult to identify and you face the possibility of grabbing the wrong one – or another passenger mistakenly taking yours. Because of this, Ryanair has urged passengers who frequently travel with black, navy or grey cases to ‘alter’ their baggage to prevent any mix-ups upon arrival.

The budget airline recommended holidaymakers make their checked luggage more recognisable on the carousel due to how common these shades are, reports the Express.

In a statement last year, Ryanair said: “Make it easier to spot your checked-in luggage on the carousel, especially if your luggage is black, navy or grey (like 99.9 percent of the population). Add a colourful luggage tag or ribbon to the handle so that there’s no confusion on arrival.”

The popular airline also advises passengers to make copies of their passport, driving licence and/or ID card and email them to themselves. It’s also recommended to photograph these documents and save them on your phone for offline access at your destination.

According to research carried out by luggage brand Eminent, over 40% of travellers choose black hard-sided cases. Jamie Frazer, a travel guru from US summer camp Wild Packs, shared with the Economic Times: “Vibrant colours are far easier to spot on the baggage carousel than the typical black hard-sided suitcase.

“If you still want to use a black suitcase, include colourful luggage tags, stickers, or patterned straps so that it stands out in a crowd.”

He further advised that you should “include your name, phone number, and email address on the tag, as these are typically the quickest ways to get in touch.” He then concluded the warning by urging people to always “avoid listing your home address to reduce safety risks.”

Neil Armstrong was worried about potential charges over luggage size restrictions when he flies with his family of nine – so he decided to take matters into his own hands

When Neil Armstrong and his family of nine were gearing up to fly with a budget airline, he was concerned about potential extra charges due to luggage size restrictions. The clan had booked flights with Ryanair, an airline notorious for its stringent carry-on bag policy and associated fees.

To sidestep a hefty bill, the 54-year-old took the initiative. Equipped with cardboard and tape, he constructed his own replica of the airline’s sizer cage in just 15 minutes. He then used this DIY sizer to measure all the family’s hand luggage, ensuring there would be no costly surprises at the airport.

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A viral video on TikTok shows Neil diligently crafting the sizer to the exact dimensions of 40x20x25cm. The father-of-three confessed that he had to swap his own hand luggage backpack after discovering it didn’t fit into his homemade box, reports the Daily Record.

However, he is now confident he has avoided a potential £510 fee, based on Ryanair’s standard charge of €60 (£51) per bag. The graphic designer remarked that he felt ‘like a Ryanair employee’ while inspecting the bags but urges other patrons of the budget airline to follow suit.

His daughter, Imogen (Immy) Armstrong, 20, shared a TikTok video of Neil assembling the box, which has since amassed over 200,000 views. Neil, from Maidstone, Kent, said: “The family had a bit of a snigger but they think it’s a great idea. I’m proud of it. I’ve read that people have been charged so I wanted to be sure that our bags would fit. I didn’t want to get caught out.

“You can get the tape measurer out but that’s not really accurate and I saw the boxes at the airport but when you’re there it’s too late. I thought I’d make my own and all 10 of us can get our hand luggage and make sure it fits in that.

“I went and got some cardboard, followed the strict centimetre rule, stuck the cardboard together and made this box. The rest of the family only live streets away so I told them to come round when they have a minute and pop their bags in.

“It’s not until you mock something up that you can actually visualise it (the Ryanair measuring box). I don’t want to spend my holiday spending money on a bag. I realised the bag I was going to take wasn’t going to fit so I’ve used another one. I felt like a Ryanair worker, saying to the kids ‘no that won’t do. Go and get another one (bag)’. I’d encourage other people to do it too so they’re not caught out.”

The family is now confidenT that they will avoid any extra baggage fees for their flight from London Stansted to Tenerife. Imogen’s TikTok video bore the caption ‘When your dad doesn’t wanna pay Ryanair £70 so makes his own hand luggage check’.

A TikTok user reacted by saying: “A new level of airport dad has been unlocked.” A second person commented: “Honestly, great idea.” A third quipped: “Hey, I don’t blame him! Work smarter not harder.” Ryanair has been approached for a response.

Sofia, also known as sofiasttravels, recently shared how she booked a seat on “Ryanair’s cheapest flight” for a day out and was amazed by how much she spent on the adventure

We’ve all had those moments where we just want to jump on a plane and soak up some much-needed sunshine, but one woman recently took this travel dream to new heights. Sofia, who goes by the handle sofiasttravels on TikTok, confessed that she booked herself onto “Ryanair‘s cheapest flight” for a day trip, and was left gobsmacked by how little it cost to spend a day gallivanting in a different country.

In a recent video, Sofia shared her “extreme day trip” adventure – an experiment to see what would happen if she simply hopped on the most affordable flight available. After a bit of digging, she found that the cheapest ticket was for a flight to Pescara in Italy on the day she wanted to travel.

She revealed that this set her back a mere £42 for a return journey from London Stansted Airport. Eager to discover what awaited them, Sofia and a friend jetted off to Italy where they enjoyed breakfast for a bargain €6.20 each, roughly £5.34.

Greeted by a balmy 23°C, they strolled along the beach before indulging in cocktails and snacks, which totalled €7.00 (£6.03). Next on the agenda was lunch, costing them €23.00 per person, approximately £19.82. In a surprising twist, they ended up joining a “stranger’s 18th birthday party”, seemingly having a whale of a time.

Later, they treated themselves to some gelato at €2.50 (£2.15) per serving. Along with browsing the local shops and savouring delicious food, they squeezed in another Aperol spritz before heading home.

After a day packed with excitement, they hopped on their flight back and Sofia declared it was “such a great day out.” It’s truly remarkable what can be achieved within the span of 24 hours.

The video has left scores of viewers astonished since its release, prompting a flurry of questions. One viewer even expressed intentions to embark on a similar adventure soon.

A seasoned traveller shared: “Cheapest flight I’ve taken with Ryanair was a £4 return back in uni. Skipped lectures for a day trip to Dublin.”

Someone else recounted: “Did this once to Copenhagen. It was so tiring, but had the best day.” Another responded: “Wow – looks amazing.”

In another comment, someone mentioned: “I’m flying to Amsterdam and back on the same day. I got a ticket to see the Anne Frank house and I’ll do a boat trip.”

For those unaware, with proper planning, you can explore over 200 destinations across 34 countries on a budget with Ryanair. Daily checks for the lowest fares on European flights make it possible to spontaneously jet off to a variety of places.

Whether for work or leisure, there are countless reasons to book a spur-of-the-moment trip. All it takes is some savvy searching to snag the best deals for your intended travel dates.

The Ryanair website says: “We understand that flexibility is important to our travellers, so we make it easy to compare low cost flights with our Fare Finder. Take advantage of the Ryanair app for a friendly mobile experience and special offers, so you can conveniently plan trips throughout Europe and find important information related to your flight.

“You can plan the logistics of your trip right in one place. Find a hotel, car hire and vacation packages on the official Ryanair site while searching, booking and checking-in for flights.”

In a major boost for the budget airline, Ryanair has been let off paying a €107million (£91million) fine slapped on it last year by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs

Ryanair has been handed a massive £91million victory by a Spanish court.

The budget airline has been let off paying a €107million (£91million) fine slapped on it last year by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The organisation had claimed that the airlines’ policies on charging for hand luggage violated consumer rights.

The fines were part of a wider crackdown that included three other airlines, including Norwegian, totalling €179 million (£152million) in fines.

Now the Spanish High Court in Madrid has decided to let Ryanair off, allowing the ruling to sit as a precautionary one.

It comes during a big week for air passenger rights, with the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee voting to boost the amount of free hand luggage passengers flying to or from member states can take.

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“Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee,” the committee decided. Before this decision becomes law, it must be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council.

The proposals have been met with fierce opposition from budget airlines and the Spanish Association of Airlines (ALA), which has criticised it and the Ministry’s fines.

The organisation argues that such measures limit consumer choice and disrupt fair competition in the EU’s single market. “It’s about offering different service models at different price points,” the association stated.

Ryanair claims that the legal ruling this week “upholds Ryanair’s right, under EU law, to offer customers the freedom to choose — and pay for — any bags they choose to bring onboard, in addition to the free under-seat bag all Ryanair passengers bring onboard free of charge.”

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The Madrid Court noted that “the dispute between the parties is indeed complex, and it is not foreseeable that material harm would be caused to the general interest if these charges continue during the proceedings, particularly considering that such practice has been in place for years and that even the European Union is currently reformulating the current legal framework concerning whether such charges are permissible”.

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary said: “The Spanish High Court has rightly upheld EU law which protects the freedom of all EU airlines to set our own prices, a fundamental right guaranteed under EU Reg 1008/2008. The Court also upheld the right of all Spanish passengers to choose how much cabin baggage they wish to carry and pay for in addition to Ryanair’s ‘maleta gratis’, which is bigger than the EU’s prescribed sizes.

With over €10 billion invested in Spain, Ryanair contributes over €24 billion to Spain’s GDP, supports more than 10,000 direct jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers. Given the current political climate in Spain, Minister Bustinduy has far more pressing matters to address than interfering with low-cost air travel — an industry that is vital to Spain’s economy. We now call on Minister Bustinduy to show respect for EU law and the needs of Spain’s passengers and scrap his unlawful bag fines.”