Ryanair hand luggage - Any weird or wonderful ideas?

ellas9602

Hello
I've booked a Ryanair flight to the canaries for me and mine (2 adults, 4 kids) and am a bit worried about getting charged for excess baggage.
I've read through a few threads relating to baggage but find most suggestions v.expensive, especially as there are 6 of us, I just can't afford new luggage.
Would an eco-shopper cotton type bag be ok? does it say anywhere that the bag must fully close?
Has anyone had any different/ingenious/resourceful/imaginative ideas??
Would love to hear stories of thick-skinned-ness (much to the embarrasment of my kids):money:
TIA

kindalen

even if you are going to the sun, you can wear a big coat with loads of pockets. you could even sew a load of pockets in too. when you get off the plane just pack coat into an extra bag.

23rdspiral

primark sell BIG shoppers/weekend bags that look like they'd be carry on size, they are about 6quid each. take a tape measure to the shop to check... and if necessasary just sew a pleat along the side in to take them down by an inch!

ceebeeby

We went to Spain last year on hand luggage for 4 weeks!

Everyone has to get on the plane wearing 4 / 5 outfits, plus bulging pockets (it's very very funny!!!) including sun hats. Once you're on the plane, fortunately the air con is usually so low that you don't swelter - if the kids start grumping, start pulling out of your pockets the ASDA reusable carrier bags (the strong ones) and let the kids strip off, layer by layer - discreetly mind!!!. No-one counts the bags as you're going off the plane anyway.

Bin anything you don't HAVE to bring back, to avoid a repeat coming back, as the overseas airports will be a lot, lot hotter - we usually leave towels etc. behind.

Make it a game with the kids!!

ellas9602

Kindalen
Thanks for that I hadn´t really thought of putting anything on our person! My OH usually wears a big coat anyway so I´ll fun seeing what I can get into his pockets!

23rdspiral wrote: »

primark sell BIG shoppers/weekend bags that look like they'd be carry on size, they are about 6quid each. take a tape measure to the shop to check... and if necessasary just sew a pleat along the side in to take them down by an inch!

I think i'll probably take this option, doubles up as a beach bag! Need to probably source a couple of rucksacks for the 2 males.

Everyone has to get on the plane wearing 4 / 5 outfits, plus bulging pockets (it's very very funny!!!)

:rotfl::rotfl:I'm definitely doing this, my 3 teenage girls (who are aghast at having only 1 bag and 10 kilos) will probably buy into being silly.

I'm impressed with your 4 weeks worth of packing ceebeeby, did you take beach towels and toiletries? What else did you compromise on?
:T

poppy_f1

depending on what time you arrive, you could always buy toiletries there

silverhairgranny

any bags will do as long as they are in size, sewing is a good idea to make it smaller. In the pound shop they have those striped bags with a top zip if you are brave enough to carry it (Iwould) anything to save money. It has to fit in that metal size thing. They dont worry about the weight I found so much only the size, but I still wont go over and remember shops abroad sell everything we do.

ailuro2

But 10Kilos each really is plenty per person!

When we went to Florida for a fortnight we didn't really try to keep the weight down much, normal MAtalan suitcases weighed 9,11 and 12 kilos.

Try packing some clothes into the suitcase you'd prefer to take, you might be worrying over nothing!;)

doaknic

when I go away on holiday I generally take around 12 kg of luggage. The last 2 trips were to the canaries so it was sunshine clothes, mostly swimwear and shorts.Husband and daughter wore flip flops and crocks the whole time too..Wash stuff while you're there,you only wear half the stuff anyway. You could always check in at least one case between six of you and put toiletries in that since the price of suntan lotion down at the beach is generally overpriced.By the time you buy expensive products abroad you could have paid the baggage charge and bought buy one get one free offers in supermarkets here a lot cheaper, especially as there is six of you !!

meandmaboy

doaknic wrote: »

when I go away on holiday I generally take around 12 kg of luggage. The last 2 trips were to the canaries so it was sunshine clothes, mostly swimwear and shorts.Husband and daughter wore flip flops and crocks the whole time too..Wash stuff while you're there,you only wear half the stuff anyway. You could always check in at least one case between six of you and put toiletries in that since the price of suntan lotion down at the beach is generally overpriced.By the time you buy expensive products abroad you could have paid the baggage charge and bought buy one get one free offers in supermarkets here a lot cheaper, especially as there is six of you !!

I agree with you its more cost effective to check in @ least 1 case & put all the toiletries / suncream.
When I travel with my son & nephew I check in 1 case between us & they carry small holdalls / rucksacks etc.Saves the bother of going to look for suncream / shampoo / shower gel etc.
Although last year was the first year i travelled with hand luggage only, it was a struggle but we got there in the end up & showed me that we all travel with 2 much luggage constantly.

dickydonkin

Ryanair hand luggage - Any weird or wonderful ideas?

AVOID Ryanair and use a legacy carrier where there is no faffing on worrying about luggage.

By the time all of the extras are added on, there is sometimes very little difference between the prices of LOCO carriers and the likes of BA - and sometimes it works out cheaper!

Consideration also needs to be considered when things go t**s up with Ryanair (as it frequently does). At least legacy carriers would not leave you stranded and leave you to find and finance your own way home.

Need proof?

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ryan.htm

Cost isn't the be all and end all!