If one were asked to assemble 100 artefacts explaining life in the early 21st century, a strong contender for inclusion would be the 10kg wheelie case. This unassuming piece of luggage is emblematic of the era of cheap air travel to which many of us have become accustomed. And, while its dull uniformity may sometimes cause confusion at the baggage carousel, there is something reassuring about its universality in a world full of uncertainty and unpleasant surprises.
Not any more. According to many disgruntled Ryanair customers, something has changed at that airline’s boarding gates. The sizers into which bags must fit to be deemed within the correct dimensions are still there, but yellow tape has been added to delineate the actual requirements. Bags which previously sailed through may now be subject to a charge of up to ¤75.
It may come as a surprise to those who have experienced its approach to customer service, but it appears that Ryanair had been turning a blind eye to the fact that its sizers were marginally more capacious than the dimensions specified in its contract with customers. This uncharacteristic act of generosity has now been rectified.
Although the airline claims that bags which fit within its sizers will still be accepted, this newspaper has received many messages to the contrary from unhappy passengers who say they have been charged for luggage which they had hitherto brought on board for free. Ryanair appears disinclined to resolve this contradiction, dismissing these testimonies as mere “stories”.
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Those booking a Ryanair flight now have the option of either buying new luggage or heeding recent advice from the French government’s Agency for Ecological Transition that clothes are washed far too often. While confirming that underwear should be changed daily, the agency believes T-shirts can be worn for five days without washing and jeans for 30. If that advice were followed, it would be possible to go on holidays with no bag at all and a few undergarments stuffed in pockets. How long, though, would it take for Ryanair to announce a new pocket charge?
