Ryanair introduces luggage charge and online check-in

Friday, 26 Jan, 2006 0

Ryanair passengers will have to pay to put luggage in the hold while online check-in has been introduced for first time.

In a raft of measures aimed at cutting airport and handling costs by £20 million, the low cost carrier said ticket prices will also be reduced across the board by 9% and the luggage allowance raised from 25kg to 30kg.

The initiatives will start from March 16,

Ryanair said the online check-in for those with hand luggage – which represents around 25% of its passengers – will reduce queues at the airport. They will also be given priority boarding which will further reduce congestion at the gate.

People with luggage to store in the hold however will be charged £2.50 per bag, or £5 if they have not pre-booked their flight. The carrier stressed the cost would be offset by the reduction in the ticket price.

“This initiative will encourage and incentivise more passengers on short haul journey’s to travel with hand luggage only,” said chief executive Michael O’Leary. “Our higher carry-on limit of 10kgs, and our new increased checked in allowance of 20kgs will largely eliminate excess baggage charges.

“These changes will enable us to reduce our airport and handling costs across the network.”

Around 50% of passengers check-in one bag but O’Leary predicted that between 40% and 50% of passengers will now switch to online check-in and only take hand luggage.

Mike Rutter, chief commercial officer for Flybe, which has already started charhing to check-in bags, said: “Flybe has been a pioneer in the low cost sector and sees hold baggage charges as the next logical step for this vibrant part of the aviation industry.

“Until now the cost of handling baggage has been spread across all travellers, regardless of how much baggage they bring on board. Our move to introduce the Flybe Fair Deal on Baggage is an extension of our fair and transparent pricing strategy, and we welcome Ryanair’s decision to adopt this latest low fares pricing business model.”

Report by Steve Jones