'My go-to cabin bag avoids Ryanair fees - and costs less than two in-flight meals'
Savvy Irish travellers are on the hunt for ways to dodge pricey airline fees - and one clever hack is packing everything into a free carry-on bag. Mirror journalist Harriet Morphy-Morris swears by her Cabin Max bag, which has saved her hundreds on Ry
With autumn setting in, many people across Ireland are starting to plan their winter getaways or even next year's summer holidays. And with the ongoing cost of living crisis, people are searching for ways to save on travel expenses wherever possible.
One common hack is packing everything into hand luggage to avoid checked baggage fees. Airlines like Ryanair allow passengers to bring one free carry-on that must fit under the seat in front of them.
Turning up at the airport with a bag that's too big can end up costing a sizable amount, so it’s no surprise to see the growing trend of cabin bags that are the exact size allowed on airlines such as Ryanair for free.
With this in mind, one savvy traveller has shared her go-to cabin bag that she has used to travel all around Europe, and has never paid a cent in luggage fees.
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Mirror journalist Harriet Morphy-Morris has been raving about her trusty under-the-seat bag from Cabin Max, which she paid €47 for, but is now discounted on Amazon's flash Prime sale.
She writes: "Along with my passport, the Cabin Max bag become an essential travel item and since buying it in March 2023, I've managed to dodge fees - yes, even the hefty €70 Ryanair fee - on flights all over Europe. I've bypassed the Ryanair sizer in Milan, Dublin, Copenhagen, and easyJet's checker on a recent trip to Gibraltar. I don't have to pay for a cabin bag or hold suitcase.
"My reliable Cabin Max backpack can fit four days' worth of clothes and is a lifesaver for long-weekend travellers. It fits plenty of outfits, and because it fits under the seat in front, it's considered a €0 'personal item' with each boarding pass.
"And the same brand has been discounted during Amazon's flash Prime sale. I paid just under €47 for my Manhattan Cabin Max bag at the time and considering how much I've crammed it under the already tight foot space, it's safe to say I've got my money's worth."
Travellers looking for a way to carry on a free carry-on can get the Metz 20L backpack for only €36 - that's 25% less than usual - via Amazon HERE. It comes in more than 20 different colours, so there is one to suit everyone, and some of them have had their price dropped to just €22.62. Alternatively, it's for sale on the official Cabin Max website for €43 HERE.
Harriet continues: "To put it bluntly, that's actually cheaper than purchasing two in-flight meals on Ryanair, which would set you back €27.45. Additionally, if you want to bring a larger cabin bag on board, which comes with the perk of priority boarding, the cost varies between €7 and €43, depending on the route and demand for your flight."
The bag in question measures 40 x 25 x 20, which fits perfectly within Ryanair's free bag sizer, as well as the size limits of easyJet and WhizzAir. Harriet adds a helpful tip: if the bag bulks up when fully packed, opening the zip slightly to let air out while squeezing it into the Ryanair sizer usually solves the problem.
She explained: "I've always managed to sneak it on board for free, even when it's been checked. However, because the bag is made of soft material, it can bulk up when packed to the brim, which isn't ideal. If this happens, simply opening the zip to let some air in while squeezing it into the metal checker at the boarding gate usually does the trick."
Crafted from recycled fabric, this nifty carrier is branded as 'environmentally conscious', according to the company. Over the past month, more than 300 have flown off the Amazon shelves, with scores of buyers singing its praises.
While most feedback is positive, one buyer lamented: "So I would give this bag the full 5 stars, the size is perfect, the bag is comfortable and it does what it says on the tin. However, the zip on the front of the bag broke halfway through my first trip away, leaving the pocket unusable. Annoyingly too, this bag wasn't used throughout the day, only from my house, though the airport and back again - we didn't take it out for daily use and it stayed in the hotel. So really, this bag made it through the airport once and broke."
You can check out the Cabin Max Metz 20L backpack on Amazon HERE, or alternatively on Cabin Max's official website HERE for €43.
Ryanair luggage rules
If your bag exceeds the size limit at the gate, be prepared to shell out a hefty €70 fee.
- Small Bag: All fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you.
- Priority & 2 Cabin Bags: In addition to the small bag - you can take a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard, to be stored in the overhead locker. It also allows you to board the plane first using the Priority Boarding queue at the gate.
A statement on the Ryanair website states: "Extra/oversized Baggage will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee at the level set out in our Regulations. Ryanair accepts no responsibility for oversized or excess Baggage which is refused at the boarding gate and subsequently abandoned by you."
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