Monday, 28th April 2008 - 16:35CET

Ryanair to raise baggage, check-in charges

Ryanair said today it would increase charges for passengers checking in bags in a bid to encourage more people to travel with hand luggage only.

Europe's biggest low cost airline said from May 5 passengers who pre-book baggage they want to check in to the hold will be charged 10 euros ($15.66), up from 9 euros previously.

Customers booking for their flight at the airport rather than online will also incur an additional check-in charge of 5 euros versus 4 euros previously.

"Ryanair encourages passengers to avoid these charges altogether by travelling with our 10 kg hand luggage allowance and checking in online," it said in a statement.

The company said it would could continue to raise baggage fees until half of its passengers checked in online.

Comments

P.Scerri (2 weeks, 1 day ago)

As the saying goes beggars can't be choosers! Ryanair are the only airline that fly to Ireland - Airmalta dropped out the rat race no sooner had Ryanair started operating from Malta. So much for competition!! Sometimes you get a cheap flight, sometimes you don't!

Kevin Zammit (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I can't figure out this narrow view people have of budget airlines. Just because you get a flight to somewhere and on a day of their choosing for a euro, that's rubbish. Airlines cannot survive on air ... pardon the pun. Someone, somewhere is paying for it, whether that happens through tax money or bumping up prices on more in-demand seats.

Malcolm Seychell (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I think subsidies for Ryanair should be cut, like they should be cut for all airlines.

Airport taxes should be minimised so we are more competitive.

We should operate in a real free market. I cannot understand why subsidizing Air Malta is illegal (eu rules) while giving subsidy to Ryanair is fine.

R Agius (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Do we really care if Ryanair chooses to call itself a low cost or a high cost? People are not stupid; they do their homework, compare prices and take a decision on which airline to use considering all the factors, be they luggage limits, actual destination airport relative to ultimate destination, time of flight, length of flight, connections etc etc. I have flown Ryanair on several occasions, Air Malta on numerous, British Airways on other etc etc. It all depends on what is convenient at the time. All in all, there is very little to distinguish one airline's inflight services/comfort from another....and generally not enough to make a significant difference!

Kevin Zammit (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Paul? 10 kilos less 3 average weight of a mini bag ... better go somewhere sunny cause your leather jack aint gonna fit.

This is actually great ... gives me more of a reason to use Air Malta, just hope they don't get big headed. Did I tell you I hate flyin' Ryan Air?

Andrea Muscat (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

What news is this when baggage is rising by 20 euros . why doesn't anybody complain again with the raising of malta int airport tax to 4 times the amount of the EU airports!!
Last year i booked 1euro flights and return for 35 euros inc tax!!. now if we include 20 euros baggage rise that comes to 55euros. if you do the same thing today it comes to around 100euros. anybody realized how the airport tax has gone up after winning elections!

Paul Cauchi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Ryanair IS a cheap airline -- IF you are willing to travel cheap and cut corners!!! I wish people would stop complaining and enjoy the choice!! If you wish to pack 3 suitcases, have inflight meals and get onboard newspapers, then pick a regular airline. On the other hand, if you're traveling light and want a short weekend break away, you can pick a low-cost airline. Airlines in the US are charging for the 2nd luggage now. Before you know, AirMalta will be doing that too! Seriously, a ONE-WAY train ticket from Pisa to Rome costs as much as a RETURN flight from Pisa to Malta on RyanAir.

Sheelagh Harman (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I agree with James A Tyrell, Ryanair is NOT a low cost airline. Although I have travelled to Malta with them many times since Nov 2005, the cost has risen each time, when I travel later this year in Oct, I have booked with AirMalta, the fare is half the price of Ryanair, no queing at departure gate, no fight for seats, and 20kg baggage allowance, and you get a meal and drink on board.

Joseph Sammut (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Ryanair cheap what a joke just booked july august to Malta british airways £58 cheaper than ryanair with more luggage and free meal and drink

alfred curmi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Very funny, Ryanair!!! I suppose if I'm going for a week's holiday with your airline I'll have to buy clothes wherever is my destination. And, for good measure, throw them away before going to catch the return flight!!!

Wayne Hewitt (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Sum up all the costs of Ryanair to get the same service you get on Airmalta and you will (surprisingly?) find that Airmalta is cheaper and still much better!

I would never bother with the useless hassle of a 'low cost' airline from Malta. You will get deals from continental europe but not from Malta. We don't have the luxury of a second cheaper airport.

I am totally in favour of privatisation but I believe the government had made a mistake privatising our only real getaway from the island.

Wayne Hewitt (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

James A. Tyrrell (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I wish people would stop referring to Ryanair as a 'low cost airline'. Ryanair are anything but a low cost airline. The initial cost may appear to be cheap until you start to add in all the taxes and extra baggage allowances etc.

Let me put a question to Ryanair. How do you expect even a single person going on a two week holiday to Malta to manage with 10kg of baggage? What do you expect people to do, bring no luggage with them and buy everything when they arrive, and then dump it before they leave for home again?

Jean-Pierre Tabone Adami (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

So I'm selling hamburgers for 2 euros, and cheeseburgers for 3 euros.
Alternatively you can go to the other guy down the road who sells both hamburgers and cheeseburgers for the same price of 4 euros.
Get the point?

A. Darmanin (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

This is suicidal for Ryanair....Easyjet was already much cheaper, and this will only shift more travellers to Easyjet or Airmalta

william sciberras (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Are we still subsidising these airlines

a.dalli (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Cannot understand why the Maltese travelling public keep supporting such methods........

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Ryanair to raise baggage, check-in charges

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