Ryanair going carry-on only

Does flying without checked baggage save time and money? One European airline thinks so. Low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair is moving ahead with plans to allow only carry-on luggage on its flights. Ryan’s think-outside-the-cabin approach also includes abolishing airport check-in (transitioning to online check-in only) and maybe charging for toilet use (this idea has been raised again, it was first called a publicity stunt/hoax).

More on the baggage issue: It sounds more like glorified gate checking:

O’Leary told reporters that Ryanair plans to proceed early next year with a ban on all passenger check-in luggage while offering unlimited carry-on baggage for free, subject to airport regulations. He said the move will lower airport costs, speed up baggage processing times and allow Ryanair to offer lower fares.

O’Leary envisages a system that allows passengers to carry their baggage through the airport, check it into the cargo hold at the steps of the aircraft and collect it as they disembark at their destination. - read the entire story from the Wall Street Journal

Update on June 25, 2009 by Frank@OBOW

Mr O’Leary (Ryanair exec) said: ‘I do believe we will start charging for toilet access.

‘We are flying aircraft on an average flight time of one hour around Europe. What the hell do we need three toilets for?

‘If you get rid of two [toilets] you can get six more seats on a 737. They will all be scurrying to the toilet before the departure gate.’ - Daily Mail

Update on June 25, 2009 by Frank@OBOW

(Ryanair) yesterday revealed they were scrapping luggage check-in desks.

And passengers will take their own bags through security, departure lounges and across the runway to their plane.

They will then be able to carry on one piece of hand luggage but leave any other bags beside the aircraft to be loaded into the hold - and picked up the same way on arrival.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “What it means is no more waiting at the carousel, no more losing your bags, no more wasting your life in overpriced airport terminals.

“Sometime in the spring we will go to 100 percent carry-on bags. You can bring unlimited bags as long as you can get them through security.” - Scottish Daily Record

Note the caveat. Baggage allowances will be subject to airport rules. Some gullible travelers will be disappointed when they have to re-check bags for connecting flights, maybe with hefty charges.

Comments

[lordhamster]

Interesting. What are they going to do with all the unused space in the hold? Will they transport cargo for fedex etc?

Charging for toilet use may backfire if they do it. I for one would not buy their in-cabin pop/beer if the toilets were pay per use.

[Paula S]

I bet the baggage handlers just love Mr O'!!

However this doesn't address the problem we already have with the overheads being full if you're in the middle to last lot boarding the plane.
Return flight to Toronto in December was quite full, we had BA WT+ seats but found some people boarding first in economy had stored their bags in our section's overheads, the stewardess had to tell off a couple of people when they walked up from the rear to put more stuff with their bags. They held up the incoming passengers and made us scramble for overhead space. Why the heck they couldn't use the storage over their seats is beyond me, they were first on!
My husband had a good idea, why don't they number the overhead bins corresponding with your seats, that's what you get, that's what you use.