Ryanair offers passengers the anticipation of carrying a tiny hand baggage of 40x30x20 cm on board free of charge, which must fit under the seat. The media regularly hears about situations where airlines request additional charges from tourists, for example, a bag or backpack exceeds the permitted dimensions. On the another hand, the courts regularly side with travellers in specified disputes.
RECLAMA
See the video by Joanna Jabłczyńska, wondering whether Ryanair is acting in accordance with the law. "He rules his rights"
Return the cash for the carry-on. Ryanair lost the fight
The Spanish court of Granada issued a judgement ordering the airline to return EUR 66 (on 17 October 2025 it is PLN 280.18) plus interest and court costs to the passenger who paid this amount for the hand baggage during the flight from Poland to Malaga on 9 August 2024. It considered that the charge charged by Ryanair was wrong.
He referred to the Spanish Air Navigation Act, according to which hand baggage is simply a fixed component of passenger transport and cannot be charged additional charges. akin judgments have been passed in Spain before. An example is the case of May 2025, erstwhile the Salamanca court ordered Ryanair to return 147 euros (624.05 zł) to a passenger who paid for hand baggage on 5 different flights between 2019 and 2024.
Hand luggage Photo. Grzegorz Celejewski / Wyborcza.pl Agency
Ryanair must return the money. Spain triumphs
According to the diariosur.es portal, Pablo Bustinduy, Minister of Consumer Rights and Social Affairs in Spain, is very pleased with the verdict that took place in Grenada. He publically praised this ruling, calling it another success in defending consumer rights. It is worth mentioning that the decision of the court came shortly after the European Commission initiated a procedure against Spain for imposing a fine of EUR 179 million on Ryanair and another low-cost airlines (Vueling, EasyJet, Norwegian and Volotea). They were about charging additional charges for hand baggage and booking places alongside dependents, e.g. people with disabilities and children. The Spanish media emphasise that this is an crucial triumph for passengers and can affect the practices of low-cost airlines throughout Europe, especially in the context of the ongoing dispute between the Spanish Government and Ryanair and the European Commission.
We encourage you to observe us in Google News.
