Last updated: August 2026
Flying with Ryanair means access to some of the lowest fares available from UK airports, but also one of the stricter rulebooks of any budget carrier. Understanding what is included, what costs extra, and what your rights are will save you money and stress at the gate.
This guide covers everything you need before flying with Ryanair: hand luggage rules, check-in times, onboard food, refund rights, and how to find the cheapest seats. For specific topics, use the guides below.
What does Ryanair include in the ticket price?
Ryanair’s base fare covers very little compared with most airlines. The only guarantee for every passenger is a small bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) that must fit under the seat in front. Overhead locker access, hold luggage, seat selection, and food are all extras. The table below shows what comes standard and what costs extra, based on Ryanair’s current UK fare structure.
| What | All passengers | Extra cost or upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Small bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm, under seat) | Included for every passenger | , |
| Cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, overhead) | Plus and Flexi Plus fares | From £12 (Priority & 2 Cabin Bags add-on) |
| 20 kg hold luggage | Plus and Flexi Plus fares | From £18.99 per bag, per flight |
| Seat selection | Plus and Flexi Plus fares | From £4 per seat, per flight |
| Priority boarding | Plus and Flexi Plus fares | From £6 per flight |
| Airport check-in | , | £55 per person, per flight |
| Food and drink on board | , | Buy on board from around £3 |
Ryanair hand luggage
Ryanair gives every passenger one free bag, measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 20 cm. It must fit under the seat in front. A second, larger bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, for the overhead locker) is only free with Priority Boarding. It’s included in Plus and Flexi Plus fares, and available as an add-on on standard fares.
Enforcement is tighter than many passengers expect. Since November 2025, Ryanair raised the bonus paid to gate staff for catching non-compliant bags, and enforcement has tightened noticeably at busy airports.
Best carry-on bag for Ryanair
Most bags marketed as “cabin luggage” are sized to easyJet or Jet2 standards and will fail Ryanair’s metal sizer. The free underseat allowance (40 x 30 x 20 cm) is narrower than many travellers expect, and standard wheeled cabin cases rarely pass it.
Ryanair flight sales
Ryanair runs flash sales four to six times a year, typically 48-hour windows with fares from around £14.99 one-way. The biggest sale of the year comes in January, when the airline discounts millions of summer seats. There’s no published schedule, but the patterns are consistent enough to plan around.
When does Ryanair release flights?
Ryanair typically opens bookings six to nine months before departure, releasing routes airport by airport rather than on a single date. The cheapest fares appear at launch, before demand builds.
Ryanair check-in
Check-in opens 24 hours before departure and is free via the Ryanair app or website. Airport check-in costs £55 per person per flight and closes 40 minutes before departure, rising to 60 minutes from 10 November 2026. See our full guide to Ryanair airport check-in fees and deadlines for the complete breakdown, including what happens if you miss the cutoff.
Seat selection
Ryanair doesn’t include seat selection in its base fare. Without paying to choose, a seat is allocated at check-in, which means passengers in the same booking may not be seated together on busy routes. Seat selection is included in Plus and Flexi Plus fares and can be added separately from around £4 per seat per flight. Window seats and extra-legroom rows cost more.
Food and drink when flying with Ryanair
Ryanair operates a buy-on-board service on all flights. There’s no complimentary food or drink for any fare type, even on longer routes. The trolley includes hot drinks from around £3, cold drinks, snacks, and sandwiches. Prices are higher than the high street but broadly in line with airport costs. The most cost-effective approach is to buy food airside before boarding. Ryanair permits passengers to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks, provided any liquids comply with airport security rules. You can’t bring your own alcohol.
Delays and your rights
Under UK261, Ryanair passengers are entitled to compensation when flights are delayed or cancelled, provided the disruption was within the airline’s control. Extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather are excluded. If your flight arrives more than three hours late, compensation is:
- Flights under 1,500 km: £220
- Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km: £350
- Flights over 3,500 km: £520
Ryanair must also provide meals, drinks, and communication for delays of more than two hours, and accommodation if you’re stranded overnight. Keep all receipts. For delays of five hours or more, you have the right to a full refund if you choose not to travel, but this right disappears once you board.
Submitting a claim
Submit claims directly to Ryanair via ryanair.com. If refused, escalate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority or an ADR provider. Third-party claims companies charge 25 to 35% of any compensation awarded.
Can you cancel a Ryanair flight?
You can cancel a Ryanair booking at any time, but the ticket itself is non-refundable, so you will not get your money back. A refund is only available if Ryanair cancels your flight, delays it by five hours or more, or denies you boarding. If the airline cancels with fewer than 14 days’ notice and the cause is within its control, you may also be entitled to compensation under UK261.
Ryanair travel insurance
Ryanair sells travel insurance at checkout through XCover, underwritten by Europ Assistance. The standard policy covers emergency medical expenses up to €150,000, cancellation for insured reasons, and delayed baggage. It excludes pre-existing medical conditions and doesn’t cover travellers over 70 as standard.
Ryanair’s Priority boarding is worth considering if you’re travelling with hand luggage only and want to guarantee overhead bin space. Without it, you’ll board last. If you’re travelling as a family, check Ryanair’s reserved seating options before you fly. You’re not automatically seated together unless you pay for assigned seats.
"Ryanair’s headline fare buys a seat and a small under-seat bag, nothing else is included by default. Add a cabin bag for £12 to £36 if you book early, seat selection from £4, and budget £55 for airport check-in if you arrive without a boarding pass. Add what you need to the headline fare, since that’s the real price you’ll pay."
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Frequently asked questions
What does Ryanair include in the ticket price?
The standard Ryanair fare includes one small bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm), which must fit under the seat. Nothing else is included: no hold luggage, no seat selection, no food, and no Priority boarding. These are all available as add-ons, or bundled into Plus and Flexi Plus fares.
Is flying with Ryanair worth it?
It depends what you value. Ryanair consistently offers some of the lowest base fares from UK airports, particularly on European short-haul routes. If you travel with only a small bag and book during a sale, it’s hard to beat on price. If you want a cabin bag, a chosen seat, and hold luggage included, the total cost is closer to full-service budget carriers like easyJet or Jet2.
How strict is Ryanair at the gate?
Very. Ryanair uses metal bag sizers at departure gates, and since November 2025 enforcement has tightened noticeably. If your bag fails the sizer, Ryanair charges £70 to £75 to check it into the hold. See our full guide on whether Ryanair is strict with hand luggage.
What is Ryanair’s fleet?
Ryanair operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet. The workhorse is the 737-800, with newer 737 MAX 8 and MAX 200 aircraft added across the network. The MAX 200 is a high-density configuration unique to Ryanair, with 197 seats. Standard seat pitch is around 30 inches, typical for a European low-cost carrier.
Can I bring food on a Ryanair flight?
Yes. Ryanair allows passengers to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks, provided any liquids comply with airport security rules. You can’t bring your own alcohol. Ryanair sells food and drinks on board from around £3.
How do I claim compensation from Ryanair?
Go to Ryanair’s disruption rights page to submit your claim, you’ll need your booking reference, flight details, and evidence of the delay or cancellation. The right to this compensation comes from UK261, the post-Brexit flight delay law. If Ryanair rejects a valid claim, escalate to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an approved dispute resolution service. Avoid third-party claims companies, they take 25 to 35% of any payout.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
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