If you’re planning a summer of weekend city breaks or tropical beach jaunts, without the added expense of checked luggage, chances are you’re a dab hand at maximising your hand luggage. But with airline rules stricter than ever, you don’t want to be stung by last minute charges at the gate.
If you’re looking for the best carry-on luggage or the best check-in suitcases for far-flung trips, look no further than The Independent’s travel experts – particularly if you’re flying with a budget airline.
Finding the right-sized carry-on is key. From easyJet to TUI Airways and Jet2, each airline has its own bag restrictions. British Airways is one of the most generous, allowing both a small and a larger cabin bag, while airlines like Wizz Air only include a small bag that fits under the seat in front of you.
Ultra low-cost airline Ryanair is famously strict. Its rules recently changed so that a ‘small personal bag’ can’t exceed 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, and ground staff now receive a bonus for every oversized bag they spot.
So, the glory days of confidently wheeling on your cabin bag onto a short-haul flight are gone. Unless you want to cough up cash for extra baggage, you’re limited to just one small personal item while travelling. Across the board, airlines are stricter than ever with bag checks, so it’s more important than ever to choose your luggage carefully.
Fortunately, we’ve found the perfection solution. Meet: Primark’s quilted underseat cabin bag that combines affordability with a generous interior size. Approved by our travel experts, it secured a spot in our review of the best hand luggage bags – it’s also one of the cheapest travel bags we’ve ever tested.
Read more: The best luggage brands for your next holiday
Whether you’re jetting off on a sunny city break or a balmy beach holiday, find out how to buy the bag below, plus everything you need to know about Ryanair’s hand luggage restrictions.
How strict is Ryanair with hand luggage?
While easyJet also has tricky luggage allowance, Ryanair has a notoriously strict policy. This is mostly down to smaller cabin areas, leaving limited space for excess bags. Its new dimensions match Wizz Air, which also charges extra if your bag exceeds the requirements.
More often than not, attendants will measure your bag in a frame before boarding to ensure it complies with their dimensions. If you fail to meet the restrictions or bring a second bag, your bag will be tagged and placed in the aircraft hold, subject to a fee of anywhere between £40-£60.
What are the Ryanair hand luggage dimensions?
Ryanair currently allows you to carry on board a small cabin bag measuring 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, and this must fit under the seat in front of you.
What hand luggage can you take on Ryanair?
If you need extra hand baggage allowance, you can buy a priority ticket that lets you carry two cabin bags. This includes a small personal bag (40cm x 30cm x 20cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you, and a 10kg bag (55cm x 40cm x 20cm) to be stored in the overhead locker.
Best Ryanair hand luggage bags
Primark quilted under-seat cabin bag
“If you only travel occasionally and don’t want to spend much on hand luggage, this bag should do the job nicely,” says travel expert Alessia Armenise. “It fits a good amount of belongings – I packed two full summer outfits, a pair of flats, a medium-sized washbag, chargers, socks, and other accessories.”
While not the best choice for carrying a laptop (it doesn’t have a dedicated laptop pocket), if you need something for short-haul city breaks, this is very hard to beat for the price. It’s worth noting that “it’s also not the most comfortable to carry, as it doesn’t have a shoulder strap, only hand straps.”
Cabin Max equator X 20l under-seat cabin bag
Dubbed the best under-seat bag in our tests of the best carry-on luggage, the equator X measures 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, which means that it just about sits within Ryanair’s strict hand luggage restrictions. At only £29, it’s brilliant value for money. Lightweight to carry, the bag offers ample storage. “On the back, there is a padded laptop sleeve and a hidden pocket for storing passports and phones”, said our tester. “Inside, there are two compartments, complete with compression belts”, they added. It fits plenty of belongings inside, despite its compact dimensions.
For more travel recommendations, browse our roundup of the best hand luggage bags
