Ryanair: Today New Baggage Fees, Tomorrow Stand-Up Seating

July 1, 2010 at 3:43 PM | by Omri | Comment (1)

We just checked Jaunted's Ryanair archives and noticed that we haven't written about the Irish LCC in over a week. That means that neither the airline nor its famously combative CEO Michael O'Leary have said anything ridiculous, offensive, or stupid in at least 7 days. So when you think about it, we were due for something like today's announcement that the airline is going forward with "vertical seating." And that they're planning to pay for the new seats with pay-to-pee fees.

Usually we'd say that this is just Ryanair's endearing way of generating press. They're obviously serious—plans are already in the works to knock out the last 15 rows of their 250 planes—but why make the announcement now, when the actual policy change is still months away? In this case, it might have something to do with how they want to shift the focus away from what's kicking in right now. Welcome everybody, to Ryanair's summer baggage policy, complete with its July and August 33% checked baggage fee hikes.

Under the rules, the first bag under 15kg will cost �20 if paid online and �40 if paid at the airport. The second bag under 15kg will cost �40 online and �80 at the counter. Do you have any bags over 15kg? That's where things get fun. Customers can check in one and only one bag that's between 15kg-20kg, at a price of �30 online and �50 airport. But any subsequent bags absolutely no matter what have to be under 15kg. And every kilo over 20kg on the first bag is an additional �20. Total cost for a 30kg bag packed at the last minute? �250.

Of course you could always buy Ryanair's fairly expensive and specifically branded roller, designed to make sure that after you pay for their luggage on their website you only have to pay them the minimum in future baggage fees. Just make sure that you exuberantly lavish praise on the carry-on, lest they publicly attack and blackmail you. Such a delight, this company is.

[Photo: Ad Meskens / Wiki Commons]

Related Stories:
· Ryanair creates standing up flights with 'vertical seats' [Metro]
· Baggage Fees [Jaunted]
· In-Flight Comfort [Jaunted]

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