Backlash over Ryanair’s new baggage rules
RYANAIR is facing a backlash over a new cabin policy that forces passengers to place a second piece of hand luggage in the hold, as valuables that go missing may not be covered by travel insurance.
The budget airline yesterday slashed in half the baggage allowance that had previously meant passengers could – free of charge – stow two small cases in the overhead lockers.
Now only those who pay for priority boarding will retain that privilege, while all other passengers with a second piece of hand luggage will have it taken from them at the boarding gate and placed in the plane’s hold.
Ryanair has insisted this will speed up boarding by reducing the delays caused by passengers struggling to cram bags into overhead lockers. But consumer group Which? warned passengers not to pack expensive items such as laptops, cameras and tablets into bags that could end up in the hold as they will not be eligible to claim for any loss or damage under most travel insurance policies.
It said that five major insurers – Direct Line, Churchill, Axa, Aviva and LV – all exclude cover for valuables placed in a plane’s hold. Rory Boland of Which? Travel said: ‘Ryanair needs to make sure customers understand that they may not be insured for loss, theft or damage of their valuables if luggage ends up in the hold as a result of these new rules. We would advise travellers to remove wallets, keys, laptops and other important or expensive items from any bag the airline plans to put in the hold.’
Yesterday, Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the change was ‘implemented successfully’. But the new rules were greeted less enthusiastically online, as many customers will now have to either pay more for priority boarding – which starts at £5 per person – or wait at baggage carousels to collect their bags at their destination.
Hannah Beagley accused Ryanair – which uses the slogan ‘Low Fares Made Simple’ – of going ‘out of your way to make things difficult’, while Jonny Lavery claimed a suitable motto for the Dublin-based carrier would now be: ‘Low fares. Made extremely complicated.’
But Mr Jacobs added: ‘These claims are baseless. Since we announced this new policy, we have had a positive reception from our customers. This new policy is fair, will speed up boarding and will eliminate any risk of Ryanair flights being delayed because of too many bags being brought on board.’
Ryanair said all passengers will be reminded to remove valuable and electronic devices from bags that are taken off them and placed in the hold. It said passengers should also check the small print in their insurance policies before they travel.
As part of the changes, the airline has lowered the price of flying with a checked-in suitcase from £35 to £25, and increased the weight allowance from 15kg to 20kg.
‘Low fares, made extremely complicated’