Ryanair reveals cheeky ‘last-minute’ packing trick – and it might just save your holiday.Credit: dom zara, Shutterstock
Airline’s top tip could stop your suitcase woes from ruining your break.
With summer getaways on the horizon and sun-seekers frantically stuffing bikinis, chargers and crisps into every available crevice of their luggage, Ryanair has stepped up with a smart packing hack that just might spare you a terminal tantrum at the gate.
The no-frills Irish airline, famed for flights cheaper than a Friday night takeaway – and just as likely to give you indigestion – has issued a warning to travellers: don’t get caught short when the overhead bins start bulging.
In a blog post titled 15 packing tips you need to know, Ryanair revealed its golden nugget of travel wisdom: ‘Always bring a lightweight, foldable bag inside your carry-on.’ Why? Because even if your cabin bag meets all the rules, it may still end up in the hold when lockers fill up.
‘If you’re asked to hand over your carry-on luggage to check-in crew at the last minute because the overhead lockers are full, you’ll have somewhere to stash your phone, e-reader, money, snacks and any other valuables you can’t live without during the flight,’ the airline advises on its website.
Translation: if you don’t want to be separated from your sanity-saving snacks, power bank or travel docs, you’d better squirrel them away in something you can tuck under the seat, or Ryanair might whisk them away.
Strictly baggage
This handy hack comes just as the budget airline faces fresh turbulence over its famously strict baggage rules. Passengers have increasingly taken to social media to grumble about being slapped with surprise fees of up to €75 for bags that don’t make the cut – or squeeze into the dreaded baggage sizer.
Ryanair allows one small personal item for free – a handbag or laptop case, provided it slides neatly under the seat in front. But anything bigger, like a 10kg wheelie, comes at a cost – ranging from €6 to €36 depending on when and where you book.
And don’t even think about bulging pockets or sneaky straps hanging out – staff have been known to take a hard line. A few centimetres over, and you could be coughing up a small fortune just to keep your boxers onboard.
The overhead dilemma
Even those who do follow the rules to the letter aren’t off the hook. When overhead bins fill up – especially on busy summer flights – Ryanair may ask compliant passengers to hand over their bags for last-minute stowage in the hold. While this doesn’t incur an extra charge, it does mean waving goodbye to your in-flight essentials.
That’s why the foldaway bag trick is going viral among savvy travellers. Pop one into your main bag and whip it out if your luggage is snatched away at the gate. You’ll still have your travel survival kit – without having to rummage around like a tourist in panic mode.
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