Ryanair has announced plans to introduce a new €/£8 x10kg check bag service (currently €/£25 x20kg), and reduce the volume of free second gate bags, which from November 1 next is as follows:
– Priority Boarding customers (currently 30%) can continue to bring 2 free carry-on bags (1 x 10kg wheelie bag and 1 small bag).
– Non-priority customers can only bring 1 free (small) carry-on bag from November 1.
– If non-priority customers want to bring a 2nd bigger (wheelie) bag they can buy a 10kg check bag for €/£8 at time of booking (currently a 20kg bag costs €/£25). This 10kg wheelie bag must be checked in at the airport bag drop desk.
– All customers with checked bags can now switch from the €/£25 x20kg bag to the €/£8 x10kg checked bag.
– The new policy will go live at boarding gates on/after November 1, 2018, and for all bookings made on/after September 1, 2018.
Priority Vs. Non-Priority Figures
The airline asserts that 60% of its customers will be unaffected by this bag policy change, since 30% of customers reportedly already buy priority boarding and 30% already travel with only one free (small) carry-on bag. Ryanair expects that of the remaining 40% of (non-priority) customers affected by this new policy, most will either switch to priority boarding or will switch to traveling with one free (small) carry-on bag only, and others will buy the lower cost 10kg check bag.
Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs commented, “From November 2018, we are introducing a new lower cost 10kg checked bag and changing our carry-on bag policy to eliminate boarding/flight delays. Priority Boarding customers will continue to enjoy two free carry-on bags. All other (non-priority) customers will be allowed one free (small) carry-on bag, and those who wish to check in a second bigger 10kg bag can do from €/£8 at the time of booking. This new policy will speed up the boarding and cut flight delays. 60% of customers will be unaffected by these changes and we expect that the other 40% will either choose to buy Priority Boarding or a 10kg check bag or will choose to travel with only one (free) small bag as 30% already do so today.”
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
