I'm flying with Ryanair next month and just realized their baggage policy might've changed. Last time I flew with them in 2024, a small carry-on was free, but I'm seeing conflicting info online. Does anyone know what the current rules are in late 2026?
Ryanair's actually kept their small carry-on free, so you're probably seeing mixed info because people confuse it with their other restrictions - the main thing that's tightened up is what counts as "small." Right now they're pretty strict about dimensions and won't let you bring a full-sized roller carry-on without paying extra, so measure yours before you go. Your best bet is to check their site directly a week or two before your flight since these policies do shift, and honestly it changes often enough that anything I tell you could be outdated by next month.
The free small carry-on is still there, but people get tripped up because Ryanair's definition of what qualifies has gotten stricter - they measure it pretty closely now and reject bags that are even slightly oversized. If your bag fit fine in 2024, it should still work, but I'd double-check the dimensions before you go, since that's where most of the confusion comes from rather than a sudden charge appearing.
The small carry-on is still free, that part hasn't changed. But here's what everyone's missing: Ryanair's gotten really strict about what "small" actually means. They've tightened up their size limits and now they're actually measuring bags at the gate. If yours is even a centimeter or two over their specs, they'll try to charge you or gate-check it. I'd grab a measuring tape before your trip and verify your bag fits their current dimensions - don't just assume it worked in 2024.
The other trap is that a lot of travelers mix up what they're allowed to bring. You get one free personal item plus the free small carry-on, but people show up with both at full capacity and act surprised when staff says one has to get checked. Double-check the exact dimensions on their website right before you book, because they do update this stuff and the confusion online might be from folks referencing outdated info or different airlines' policies mixed together.
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