Ryanair have announced that it plans to end all passenger baggage check-in at the airports from which it operates next year.
From October the airline will still allow baggage to be checked in for the hold but will make significant charges for the “service”.
Ryanair have already introduced a totally online check-in system, where passengers print out boarding passes at home. If they forget, it costs £40 to have it reissued at the airport. They then check their baggage in for the hold at a “bag drop” at the airport.
Under the latest plan, passengers will be allowed to carry more bags through security (two or more, according to the respective airports’ rules) to the aircraft. They would then leave all but one bag at the aircraft steps, possibly paying £5 per bag for each placed in the hold.
“What it means is no more waiting at the carousel, no more losing your bags, no more wasting your life in over-priced airport terminals. You can bring unlimited bags as long as you can get them through security.” Mr O’Leary said.
Obviously this move also benefits the airline. Ryanair believes the move could save them £26 million a year, as they would need just one baggage handler per plane instead of five.
This will have a major impact on what passengers can actually pack in their baggage for their holiday, as all their travel size toiletries will now be subject to the airport security regulations for the carriage of liquids.
