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 £6 (Priority Boarding add-on) |
| 20 kg hold luggage | Plus and Flexi Plus fares | From £12 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 |
Prices from Ryanair.com. Vary by route and booking date. Updated June 2026.
Ryanair hand luggage
Ryanair gives every passenger one free bag measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 20 cm, which must fit under the seat in front. A second, larger bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg, overhead locker) is only free for passengers with Priority Boarding, included in Plus and Flexi Plus fares and available as an add-on on standard fares.
For the full breakdown of dimensions, fees, and how to avoid gate charges, see our guide to Ryanair hand luggage sizes and rules.
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.
For what to expect at the gate and how to avoid being charged, see our guide to whether Ryanair is strict with hand luggage.
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.
For tested options that reliably pass both the underseat and overhead sizers, see our guide to the best carry-on bags for Ryanair.
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 is no published schedule, but the patterns are consistent enough to plan around.
For confirmed sale dates and how to get notified before flash sales close, see our Ryanair sale dates guide.
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.
For the full release schedule and how to catch the lowest fares, see our guide to when Ryanair releases flights.
Ryanair check-in
Check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes two hours before. You can check in via the Ryanair app, the website, or an airport desk. The last option costs extra.
Online check-in is free and takes about two minutes through the Ryanair app. After checking in, save your boarding pass to your phone or print it. Gates close 40 minutes before departure, and Ryanair can and does refuse boarding without a refund if you miss that deadline.
Airport check-in costs £55 per person per flight. It is only necessary if you need to show travel documents in person. Bag drop for hold luggage closes at the same time as airport check-in, 40 minutes before departure. Arrive earlier than you think you need to.
Seat selection
Ryanair does not 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.
If you are travelling with family and need to sit together, pay for seat selection at booking, or check in as early as possible to improve the chances of adjacent seats being allocated automatically.
Food and drink when flying with Ryanair
Ryanair operates a buy-on-board service on all flights. There is 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 cannot 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: £220 for flights under 1,500 km; £350 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km; £520 for flights over 3,500 km.
Ryanair must also provide meals, drinks, and communication for delays of more than two hours, and accommodation if you are 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.
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.
Are Ryanair flights refundable?
Ryanair tickets are non-refundable if you cancel. 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.
For the full breakdown of refund rights and how to claim, see our guide to whether Ryanair flights are refundable.
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 does not cover travellers over 70 as standard.
For a full comparison of what is and isn’t covered, and whether you would get better value elsewhere, see our guide to Ryanair travel insurance.
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 is 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 £69.99 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 cannot 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 will 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.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
For more about how the site works, read:
