Ryanair passengers have taken to social media to complain about the growing length of airport queues after the budget airline introduced its new hand luggage rules this month.
Under the new policy, only a small handbag or laptop-size bag will be allowed onboard.
It has to measure no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm to be allowed in the cabin for free.
For passengers who want to bring more luggage, for the price of £6 they can benefit from priority boarding and can bring both a small bag and a larger bag for the overhead locker.
However, with the majority of passengers opting for priority boarding so they can bring more luggage on, airport queues have increased.
Passengers have united on Twitter to point out that despite paying extra they are being made to wait in line.
Many people have uploaded photos of the long queues they are experiencing.
One passenger tweeted: “Ryanair how can you advertise as priority boarding when over half the plane have so-called ‘priority’?”
Another wrote: “As expected, Ryanair’s new policy that you must purchase Priority to get your small bag in the cabin = everyone books Priority.”
“Expect this to become the new ‘normal’ and something else to be removed for additional purchase. Successful but relentlessly irritating business plan.”
Some have said they’d like their money back as paying for priority means very little.
“I paid priority boarding but looks like it’s not priority. How do I have my money back?” one person tweeted, along with a picture of people queueing.
Ryanair travellers can also pay to take a suitcase on board that measures no more than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
They will need to purchase this check-in bag for £8 during booking, or £10 after booking.
It must not weigh more than 10kg and will be left at the airport drop desk.
The airline has cautioned that passengers who bring a small bag to the gate which is too big to fit under the seat in front will be charged a fee of £25.
The same will apply if travellers attempt to bring an unpaid-for second bag to the gate.
Ryanair previously insisted the new changes are to improve timekeeping rather than make more money.
The airline intends to streamline the process by eliminating the need to take cabin bags off passengers at the departure gate and check them into the hold.
Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said earlier this month: “This new lower cost €8 x 10kg checked bag means that checked bag income will probably decline as we deliver more savings to Ryanair customers.
“Up to 50 per cent of customers will continue to bring two free carry-on bags as they travel on Priority Boarding and this new policy will speed up the boarding and cut flight delays.”
