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It’s all too easy to overlook the grilled cheese sandwich when ordering at a restaurant. It can feel like something that is best reserved for picky eaters and the kids menu. But a great version is so much more than bread sealed together with a generous layer of cheese — everything must work harmoniously together. When something is this simple in construction, each ingredient really matters, from the type of bread to the selection of cheese to any additional toppings.

Luckily, restaurants around Los Angeles are taking the grilled cheese seriously, whether leaning into nostalgic versions with American cheese and sourdough bread or experimenting with unexpected ingredients like spicy labneh and caramelized onions. The results are delicious and comforting. Here are nine of the best grilled cheese sandwiches to try in L.A.:

Everyone knows Ryanair’s strict rules around the size and weight of your luggage, but there’s one bag type it won’t accept in the hold even if meets the other requirements for travel

Packing for a flight on a budget airline can be anxiety-inducing, as the baggage requirements seem to change all the time. It’s important to check for the latest luggage rules before you fly, so you can ensure you aren’t forced to pay additional fees at the gate.

However, some holidaymakers might not realise that there is more to luggage regulations than just the size and weight of your case. One particular type of bag, beloved by those who like to take lots of gadgets overseas, can not be checked into the hold on most airlines including Ryanair.

Smart bags, which are bags that have a built-in battery and USB charging port, cannot be checked into the hold on Ryanair flights if the battery is left inside them. There’s also a 100Wh maximum for batteries being carried in the cabin, so passengers should check the capacity before they fly.

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If you have a smart bag that you’d rather put in the hold rather than the cabin, Ryanair’s website states they “may be checked in as hold luggage only if the lithium battery is removed before the bag is checked in at the bag-drop desk or at the gate.”

It clarifies: “The battery must not be placed in the hold under any circumstances. The removed battery must be carried with you in the cabin and placed in small baggage that is placed underneath the seat in front of you or on your person. Removed batteries must not be placed in the overhead lockers.”

Some bags do not give the option to remove the battery, and Ryanair explicitly notes: “If the battery is non-removable the bag is not permitted as checked baggage.”

Ryanair recently updated its luggage policy for passengers bringing a free under-seat bag onboard. These bags can now be 20% larger, and can measure up to 40x30x20cm, whereas the old allowance was previously 40x25x20cm. Technically, these small bags have no weight restrictions, although they must be light enough for a passenger to handle and carry onboard.

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The budget airline also announced another upcoming change to its baggage policy. Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: “From Tuesday 10 Nov next, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today’s 40 minutes.

“This will allow these 20 percent of our customers [checking baggage] more time to clear through airport security and passport queues, and get to their departure gate on time, especially during busy travel periods when some of these airport queues can be longer.”

It also floated a more tongue-in-cheek idea on its Facebook page, joking: “we’ll be charging yappers on our 6AM flights very soon” and proposing that people who get chatty on its early morning flights should be charged a fee for annoying other passengers.

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Budget airline Ryanair has suggested a controversial new fee targeting one type of passengers on early morning flights – and the idea has divided opinion among travellers

Budget airlines such as Ryanair are often an excellent choice if you need to travel across the UK and Europe without emptying your bank account for the ticket fee. However, they frequently impose a range of ‘hidden’ charges should you wish to add special extras to your standard ticket.

From airport check-in charges for travellers who don’t check in online, to amending the name on your booking, or missing your flight, it all carries an additional cost that can add up quickly. And Ryanair is no stranger to threatening to bring in further fees, as they regularly turn to social media to float ‘ideas’ for new passenger charges – though these seldom become reality.

Potential new charges that have been shared on their social media channels include a denim fee for travellers who choose to wear jeans while on the aircraft, to a ‘toilet use’ charge. The possibilities, it appears, are genuinely limitless – and frequently prompt mixed reactions from passengers who are swift to devise ‘hacks’ to dodge the various fees.

Now, the carrier has unveiled what could be one of its most controversial proposals yet – charging talkative passengers on early morning flights. The company turned to Facebook to float the concept in a tongue-in-cheek message.

“We’ll be charging yappers on our 6am flights very soon,” they posted. Despite how absurd it may appear, some travellers seemed entirely supportive, as they were keen for a peaceful and quiet flight when having to board early. One user wrote: “A charge we can all stand by.”

Another chimed in: “Here’s a deal, if we get on board and say we don’t want a scratch card, then we are left in peace for the rest of the flight by your in-air street traders who do most of the yapping.”

Ryanair is well known for selling scratch cards on its flights, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

However, others were quick to turn on the airline, questioning whether this fee would also apply to the cabin crew themselves. One user hit back, asking: “Does that include the ones yapping on the PA system about scratch cards and duty free?”

“That would be your crew selling us perfumes first thing in the morning,” another user added.

Ryanair fees to be aware of

While Ryanair frequently pokes fun at its own extra charges, there are some very real fees that passengers ought to familiarise themselves with – as being caught off guard could land you with a steep bill at the departure gate.

Failing to check in online means you can expect to be charged £55/€55 to ‘cover the extra cost’ of checking in at the Ryanair desk. If your flight is departing from Spain, however, this drops to £30/€30. Instead, travellers are urged to check in for their flights via the Ryanair app or website prior to arriving at the airport. Those who have pre-booked a seat can check in up to 60 days before a scheduled departure, while others may check in 24 hours before a flight. Generally, check-in closes two hours before departure.

You’ll also need to ensure your luggage meets the size requirements for cabin bags, as this is where numerous passengers come unstuck, finding themselves hit with a £60 fee per bag. Previously, bags had to be 40x25x20cm, but as of last year, passengers can bring a bag of up to 40x30x20cm. This small item can be a laptop bag, handbag, rucksack, or any item that fits within the dimensions to fit under the seat in front of you.

For an additional charge, which differs depending on route and availability, passengers can bring a second cabin bag of up to 10kg in weight. This bag can be up to 55x40x20cm in size and passengers will need to be able to load this into the overhead locker themselves without any assistance from the cabin crew.

For more information about Ryanair’s extra fees, you can read more on their website.

Dishing about what you’re reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Even better if your audience has read the same book. Reading with others also provides space to deepen community, ignite conversations and share moments of joy. Los Angeles needs that more than ever right now as we continue to shoulder a heavy 2025 marked by fires and ICE raids. But how to choose a book to get started? The best books to read in groups inspire a dialogue. They have sparkling prose and unshakable narratives. These were the guiding factors for compiling our recommendations for all kinds of readers.

We surveyed 200-plus luminaries in the book and journalism worlds to make this in-depth list. The voters included prizewinning authors, indie bookstore owners, a Man Booker Prize judge, Ivy League professors, literary agents, lauded journalists and several zealous book club members. To ensure an especially varied selection, the editors gave a final curatorial pass.

The list includes 10 categories for every type of reader, whether you reach for literary fiction or romance. We also crowned an “Ultimate Book Club Pick,” which is the title that received the most votes out of all the books by a landslide, and happens to be eerily prophetic (find it among the “Make-Believers” selections). Of course, we couldn’t include every worthy book. Let us know your picks and pull up a chair next to us. Why not read together?
— Sophia Kercher

If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.

Your choice of suitcase can impact just how well baggage handlers are able to board and unboard it

When travelling, you may think picking a suitcase is a pretty simple task, but one baggage handler has suggested that you may want to think again. Taking to Reddit, a baggage handler named Adam answered some questions about the job.

One curious internet user asked: “What’s the best / worst luggage to buy?” To which Adam was quick to reply: “Some of the worst bags to buy are the ones which have no wheels.

“In my airline, none of our holds are bin loaded, so we have to manually stack the bags inside each hold, and they can get fairly long.”

He continued: “If your bag has at least two high quality wheels, then it allows us to roll them down the hold quickly, making it easier for us. Otherwise, we have to throw the bags in order to keep to the scheduled times.

“My absolute least favourite bags are the ones that have four wheels, but one of them is seized up, so we try to roll it down, but it just falls over after moving six inches.”

Following on from this, a former baggage handler replied: “I used to handle bags. The multiple zipper expanding tubes with four tiny wheels on the bottom are garbage.

“Square ones also suck. Both mess up the stack pattern and forced me to adjust. I had always wished on airlines issuing standard bags for use. If all bags were the same, it would be a dream. Don’t get slick hard sided. They slide off or these slide off out of place.”

Similarly, flight attendant Megan Homme, who works for an American airline and shares clips on TikTok under the handle @meganhomme, previously shared some tips for picking out the right suitcase before jetting off.

Megan highlighted that one initial consideration should be your suitcase’s construction material. Whilst soft-shell cases might be simpler to handle, they can create difficulties if another passenger’s luggage spills or splits open in the cargo area.

She also suggested opting for a dark coloured case to reduce the likelihood of visible damage when it reappears from the hold.

“If your bag is going under the plane, it is going to be scuffed up very quickly. I learned that the hard way.”