Ryan air will apply a new rule in its cabin baggage. Previously, Ryanair cabin baggage is limited to 20 kg. However, from November 2018 on, the company determines that a passenger can only get free cabin baggage space for no more than 10 kgs. The airline confirmed the news. However, the company representative denied profit motif behind the new policy. Instead, the airline said that baggage and the passengers’ packaging habits had caused delays.

Behind the Ryanair Cabin Baggage Policy

According to Ryanair passenger, the new policy is a strategy used by the company to overcome the problems of delayed flights. The overhead locker space is still the same, while increasing numbers of passengers choose to hand in their small cases to the cabin. As a result, it took the flight attendants longer to manager the passengers’ luggage in the cabin.

Ryanair flies with Boeing 737 fleet, which accommodates about 100 suitcases. If every passenger brings a small suitcase into the cabin, managing the luggage will be very difficult. Similarly, the boarding process itself will be longer since the passengers have to walk in line very slowly.

With the new policy, passengers can still bring a small bag into the cabin as long as it fits under the seat in front. Meanwhile, priority passengers will be allowed to bring a small case into the cabin. Passengers who book priority boarding mostly pay £6 per flight. Does it mean that more passengers will switch to priority boarding? The airline said that it was unlikely, since the number of priority boarding is very limited.

Kenny Jacobs, the chief marketing officer of Ryanair, said that the policy is revenue neutral. There is no revenue motif behind it. Instead, it is purely aimed at reducing delays to flights because of too much luggage. In addition, most of the airline’s customers will not affected by the change in Ryanair cabin baggage policy. Why?

How the Customers are Affected by the New Policy?

To compensate for the change in Ryanair cabin baggage policy, the airline introduced a new lower rate for checked-in baggage. With the previous policy, a customer is charged £25 for luggage that weighted more than 20 kg. Meanwhile, the new policy will require the passengers to pay £8 for any luggage that weighs less than 10 kg. Therefore, the airline expects that the customers will switch to smaller case when traveling with airplane.

With luggage at the boarding gate, the boarding process is expected to be faster, thus minimizing the risks for delays. The airline has been facing baggage issues for many years. Many customers also complained because of the high handling costs. The high check-in fees were imposed to encourage the customers to travel with fewer luggages. However, it seemingly did not work.

Therefore, the new policy will solve the problems as around 60% of the passengers are encouraged to bring fewer luggages. Meanwhile, the rest 40% may choose to buy priority boarding.

Of course, the effects of the new policy of Ryanair cabin baggage will be evident in the coming few months. If the delays are reduced significantly, the policy may work.