How Strict are Baggage Restrictions?

SieIso

Hi, 

My partner is doing two short flights with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, their carry-on bags are slightly bigger than the allowances, is it something that's strictly enforced? 

sammyjammy

Ryanair for sure, I wouldn't risk it

maman

Definitely with Air Lingus. They specify the smallest bags but buying a new bag is better value than paying for baggage. I wouldn't risk it as even if it's not noticed on the way out it might be on the way back. 

elsien

SieIso said:

Hi, 

My partner is doing two short flights with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, their carry-on bags are slightly bigger than the allowances, is it something that's strictly enforced? 

Depends on the flight and how many people turn up with large bags. I was on a flight where on the way out there was no problem at all, and on the way back they were checking every bit of hand luggage and anything which was over people were being charged a fortune to put in the hold.
They may get away with it, they may not. For me, given that a new bag is cheaper than paying at the airport for hold luggage, I wouldn’t take the chance. 

tightauldgit

If it's checked - zero leeway. If it's not checked you'll get away with it if its not obvious.

The problem is you never know when they will check - it seems to be more common that they will. I wouldnt risk it with either. 

bagand96

Nearly all airlines have the bag gauges at the gate that are the exact dimensions of their permitted bags.  It takes seconds to ask passengers to pop their bag in to see.

How often they are used can vary by airline, gate staff on the day (often contracted 3rd party staff), how busy a flight is etc.  But if they ask your partner and their bag doesn't fit they can expect to be charged.

twopenny

I'd hazzard a guess that school holidays and a month after is going to be busy, so full flight. You can get some idea but not guaranteed by prices advertised near the time.

The more people with cabin bags the more they are going to measure.

35har1old

twopenny said:

I'd hazzard a guess that school holidays and a month after is going to be busy, so full flight. You can get some idea but not guaranteed by prices advertised near the time.

The more people with cabin bags the more they are going to measure.

They might even weigh it

soolin

I tend to use Easyjet and even they are getting a lot stricter than they used to be. Slightly more lax fromUk airports but overseas checking weights and sizes almost routinely. 

At most Spanish airports they ask to see and often weigh cabin baggage if you use the check in desks and give you a chance there and then to check in your bag if it is too big or heavy. If you just have cabin luggage then it is routinely checked again at the gate , usually by eye and if gate staff suspect it isn’t right then they ask you to use the bag sizer. The common one caught is the more than one bag brigade, people carrying a small compliant size under the seat Ruc sac but with a handbag or smaller second bag as well. You see them all trying desperately to get the smaller bag into the big bag rather than have to check one in. 

For peace of mind I wouldn’t risk it . 

Pollycat

SieIso said:

Hi, 

My partner is doing two short flights with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, their carry-on bags are slightly bigger than the allowances, is it something that's strictly enforced? 

Even if 999,999 people tell you that based on their experiences the luggage will be fine, your partner may be the one in a million.

Ryanair is not the sort of company to try to bend the rules with.
You only have to look at the way they respond to complaints on social media 
Ryanair gives 'sassy' response to complaint over check-in charges - Liverpool Echo
Ryanair's fires cheeky response to passenger's complaint about seat on flight - Chronicle Live

eDicky

A slightly oversize bag made of soft material and not stuffed to capacity, therefore able to enter size guage frame, will be ok. If it's a slightly oversize hard-sided case, it's not worth risking. As mentioned, gate staff can see with a quick glance if a bag needs to be checked in the sizer.