Furious Ryanair passengers have told of their anger over Ryanair’s new baggage policy which sees passengers charged for carry on suitcases.
It is the second time in 2018 the budget airline has change its rules on hand luggage, with charges now in place for all items placed on board except the smallest of bags.
The firm claims this is to reduce boarding times and delays to flights. They said on social media the policy was “working well” on the first day.
However, the new rules have been met by derision from customers who claim they feel the measure is just a way of “making Ryanair more money”.
One wrote: “'Working well?' Working well for who? Another scam by the kings of the 'let's squeeze more out of our loyal travellers' company.”
Another called it “absolute robbery”, a "transparent cash grab" and the company was asked “how can you call yourself a low cost airline?”.
Another said: “Unbelievable, trying to put a positive spin on another money making racket. What an example of customer service!! Definitely worth looking at prices from other airlines as no longer comparing like with like.”
As people got to grips with the new policy, Ryanair was tagged with queries as to what could and could not be taken on board.
Its website was branded “so confusing” and the business was asked “why is your luggage policy so confusing?”
A photo showing a huge a Ryanair check-in queue was shared by a passenger on Thursday morning who wrote: “Ryanair are a joke.. They are 1000% gonna lose business over the new bag check in.”
Some flyers did welcome the policy though.
One said: “Great news about the baggage changes. Fed up with waiting to board with my backpack and everyone bundles by with bloody suitcases. If everyone just has a backpack that goes under the seat, will make getting off the plane so much quicker too.”
In January, Ryanair began a policy which saw passengers who had not bought priority boarding permitted to take a "personal bag" such as a handbag on board.
Then a second larger bag such as a wheelie suitcase weighing up to 10kg could be put in the hold free of charge.
But this resulted in up to 120 bags being tagged at boarding gates for each flight.
As a result, departures were disrupted, leading Ryanair to no longer allow any luggage in the hold free of charge.
Passengers have to pay £8 to check in a 10kg bag, dropped from the previous lowest price for checked luggage was £25 for up to 20kg, which remains an option for those with heavier cases.
Passengers who pay for priority boarding costing £6 will continue to be allowed to take both a "personal bag" and small suitcase as hand baggage.
Ryanair believes some customers may prefer the £8 checked luggage option because they do not want to drag a wheelie case through airport security.
A statement on the airline's website read: "Main benefits of this new policy will be reduced flight delays and cheaper checked bag option. Pack more liquids into a 10kg checked wheelie bag. Walk to the boarding gate hands free."
Ryanair insists it does not expect to make more money from the new rules.
It claimed it will lose revenue from passengers with checked bags switching from the £25 fee to the £8 option.
