Ryanair & EasyJet cabin bag rules UK 2026: fees and tips

Ryanair’s policy in detail

Since 4 September 2025, Ryanair has expanded its free bag from 40 × 30 × 15 cm to 40 × 30 × 20 cm, a 33% increase in volume. This change is part of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) industry agreement signed in June 2025. The bag must fit under the seat in front of you — not in the overhead locker. According to Ryanair’s official Help Centre, the new metal bag sizers have been installed across all 235 airports the airline serves, including London Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Priority option: overhead bag included

To use the overhead locker with a bag measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm (max. 10 kg), you must purchase Priority. According to AirHint, prices vary depending on when you add it:

• £6–£20 per flight when added at booking (off-peak)
• £20–£45 when added after booking
• £70–£75 at the boarding gate (no negotiation possible)
• Limited to approximately 95 passengers per flight — sells out quickly in summer

New: agent bonus raised to €3.50 per bag

According to Air Journal (15 May 2026), Ryanair is looking to raise the bonus paid to its agents from €2.50 to €3.50 per oversized bag caught, while removing the monthly €80 cap. Michael O’Leary told The Times: « We are happy to incentivize our staff to participate in excess baggage fees. » In practice, gate checks will be more systematic than ever this summer — especially at Stansted, Ryanair’s main UK hub with 57 based aircraft.

EasyJet’s policy in detail

According to EasyJet’s official Help Centre, the free bag measures 45 × 36 × 20 cm with a maximum weight of 15 kg — notably more generous dimensions than Ryanair. The bag must fit under the seat in front. To use the overhead locker, you must purchase a large cabin bag option (56 × 45 × 25 cm, max. 15 kg). EasyJet is especially dominant from UK airports: Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh all have large EasyJet operations.

• Large bag online: £8–£35 depending on route and date
• Large bag at the gate: £48–£63 per journey
• EasyJet Plus (£249/year): large bag included in annual subscription

EasyJet Plus: worth it from 5 flights a year

According to the analysis by Mr Plane Guy, the EasyJet Plus subscription at £249/year breaks even from around 5 annual flights with a large bag (5 return trips × 2 journeys × ~£25 = £250). The subscription also includes priority boarding and seat selection. Important limitation: one subscription = one passenger only (families require multiple subscriptions).

Airline comparison table — summer 2026

Based on official airline pages and the Which? airline hand luggage guide (2026), here is the situation for UK travellers this summer:

Jet2: the exception that proves the rule

According to Travel And Tour World, Jet2 is the only UK low-cost carrier to include a full overhead bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm, 10 kg) on every fare — Basic, Plus and Flexi. This is a decisive advantage for travellers flying from its UK bases: Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow.

British Airways: more competitive than it appears

For a return London Stansted → Barcelona, a Ryanair passenger who shows up at the gate without Priority pays £30 ticket + £75 × 2 = £180 total. British Airways, with a ticket from £117 with overhead bag included, can actually end up cheaper — a calculation that flight comparison sites never show you.

What European law says in 2026

The European Parliament vote of 21 January 2026

According to Journal du Geek (April 2026), the European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority (632 votes in favour, 15 against, 9 abstentions) on 21 January 2026 to make the 7 kg cabin bag free on all flights. But this vote does not yet create law: the EU Council (the governments of the 27 member states) must still approve the text. Negotiations are stalled by industry lobbying, and no application is expected before 2027 at the earliest. For summer 2026, current rules apply unchanged — including on flights departing from UK airports operating EU routes.

The 2014 CJEU ruling and the Spanish fines

According to the BEUC report « Fly Light, Pay Heavy » (May 2025), the Court of Justice of the EU ruling of 18 September 2014 (Case C-487/12 Vueling) is explicit: « the transport of cabin baggage cannot be subject to a price supplement, provided it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions. » On the basis of this ruling, Spain fined low-cost carriers in November 2024 a total of €179 million: Ryanair (€107.7m), Vueling (€39.3m), EasyJet (€29m), Norwegian (€1.6m) and Volotea (€1.2m). According to CNBC, both airlines have appealed and are contesting these fines.

The BEUC + Which? collective action

According to Which?, the UK’s leading consumer group, the BEUC and 16 consumer organisations — including Which? and partner groups across Europe — filed a complaint with the European Commission and the CPC network on 21 May 2025. The complaint targets 7 airlines for unfair commercial practices. UK passengers can escalate unresolved complaints to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or the AviationADR scheme.

• Legal basis: 2014 CJEU ruling + EC Regulation 1008/2008
• 31 European countries support the Spanish sanctions (La Moncloa, March 2025)
• Final ruling: unknown — airlines continue their practices throughout the appeal process

Proven method for low-cost carriers

Based on documented feedback and travel forum recommendations, here are the 8 tips that actually work:

• Choose a soft bag, not a rigid one: a soft backpack of 22–24 litres compresses to fit the sizer, a hard-shell case does not. Wheels and handles count towards dimensions — the metal sizer does not lie.
• Packing cubes: compression cubes reduce clothing volume by 50 to 70%. Reliable brands: Eagle Creek, Gonex, TravelWise (available online).
• Wear your coat at boarding: if the bag is too full, putting on your jacket or coat frees up 2–3 litres of space. You can stow it in the cabin once seated.
• Weigh at home: a travel luggage scale (under £5) avoids unpleasant surprises. The limit is 10 kg with Ryanair Priority — a strict limit with no tolerance.
• Add Priority at booking: at £6–£10 at booking vs £70–£75 at the gate. The option sells out quickly in summer (limited to ~95 passengers per flight).
• If Priority is sold out on Ryanair: opt for a 10 kg hold bag (~£15–£20 online) rather than hoping to slip through the gate with a large bag.
• Book bags early: according to Which?’s study (December 2025), EasyJet’s large bag price rises from £8–£15 in low season to £25–£35 in high season. The general rule: save 30–60% compared to adding later or at the airport.
• Compare the total cost: a Ryanair flight at £30 with a gate bag return (£75 × 2 = £150) comes to £180. Always compare with the all-in price of British Airways or Jet2, bag included.

Real cost of a return London Stansted → Barcelona, worked example

To illustrate what’s at stake:

Ryanair expands, EasyJet launches 16 new UK routes

Summer 2026 marks a significant shift in the UK low-cost landscape. According to Crystal Travel, Ryanair is investing $100m in its London operations, expanding its Stansted fleet to 57 aircraft and adding new routes from Manchester (82 destinations), Birmingham (9 based aircraft, 5 new routes) and Newcastle. Meanwhile, EasyJet has launched 16 new routes for summer 2026 from eight UK airports, consolidating its position as the dominant low-cost carrier from Gatwick, Luton and Bristol.

Situation by UK airport

• London Stansted: Ryanair’s UK hub — updated sizers since Sept. 2025; tightened gate checks. 7 new routes announced for 2026. New CT scanning technology at security.
• London Gatwick: EasyJet’s largest UK base — free 45×36×20 cm bag; gate checks actively enforced. New CT scanning fully installed.
• London Luton: EasyJet strong presence; Wizz Air hub — stricter WIZZ Priority enforcement in summer.
• Manchester: Ryanair (82 destinations) + EasyJet + Jet2 all present — largest choice of low-cost routes in Northern England.
• Bristol: EasyJet expanding (new Bari and Seville routes, plus Cape Verde from May 2026); Ryanair also present.
• Edinburgh: EasyJet with new Ljubljana and Glasgow routes; Ryanair growing network; Jet2 as a generous alternative for overhead bags.

According to Travel And Tour World, London Stansted is also expanding its offer with new airlines and European routes for 2026, giving UK travellers more choice — but also more reason to be aware of varying cabin bag rules across carriers.