is ‘priority’ boarding becoming meaningless?
Low-cost airline Ryanair has recently reduced the amount of baggage non-priority travellers can take on board to just one small personal bag*, promising a decrease in boarding delays but a £25 fee if passengers bring a second bag to the gate. Passengers can avoid this fee by paying £6 for the benefits of priority boarding, which also allows a second bag on board.
However, with priority boarders now accounting for more than half of the total passengers on board Ryanair flights**, many travellers may be left asking if ‘priority’ has now become the majority. To help savvy travellers to plan ahead and avoid unexpected baggage fees at the airport, we have put together a table comparing the priority passes and luggage allowance policies of 10 airlines.
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
• 40cm x 30cm x 10cm
WEIGHT
• 8kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
23kg:
• £13.00 at time of booking
• £26.00 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
• 1 23kg checked bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
• 40cm x 30cm x 10cm
WEIGHT
• 8kg hand luggage
• 23kg checked luggage
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• All fares include priority boarding at certain airports
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Includes checked baggage
• Priority boarding
• Preferred seating
• Lounge access at selected airports
• Priority check-in desk
• Fast-track security
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 35cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
15kg
• £19.00 at time of booking
• Not available after booking
23kg
• £24.00 at time of booking
• £40.00 after booking
46kg
• £48.00 at time of booking
• Not available after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
• 1 23kg checked bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 35cm x 20cm
• 53cm x 55cm x 127cm checked bag
WEIGHT
• 10kg hand luggage
• 23kg checked luggage
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £90.00 at time of booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Get More ticket includes 23kg checked bag
• Reserved seating
• Priority boarding
• Free changes
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
SIZE
• 56cm x 45cm x 25cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
22kg:
• £7.99 – £28.00 at time of booking
• £45.00 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
Priority tickets not available with Jet2
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
• 25cm x 33cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
20kg:
• £23.00 at time of booking
• £40.00 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
• 25cm x 33cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £5.00 at time of booking
• £5.00 until 6 hours before flight, then not available
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Added extras available to be purchased individually or as packaged deals
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
10kg
• £8.00 at time of booking
• £10.00 after booking
• £20.00 at bag-drop
• £25.00 at gate
23kg
• £12.99 – £36.99 at time of booking
• £40.00 at bag-drop
• £50.00 at gate
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
• 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £6.00 at time of booking
• £8.00 after booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Skip the baggage belt with inclusion of additional cabin bag
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 6kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
20kg:
• £23.00 at time of booking
• £45.00 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £10.00 at time of booking
• Not available after booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Fast-track security
• Baggage unloaded first in the baggage claim area if checked baggage purchased
• Additional 4kg hand luggage
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 5kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
• £18.00 at time of booking
• £120.00 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 23kg checked bag
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 7kg cabin bag
• 23kg checked bag
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £249.00 at time of booking (Premium Club membership)
• Not available after booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Fast-track security
• Lounge access
• Extra leg room
• Free drinks during flight
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
• 35cm x 20cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
23kg
• £11.66 at time of booking
• £44.86 after booking
46kg
• £35.89 at time of booking
• £62.80 after booking
69kg
• £35.89 at time of booking
• £62.80 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
• 35cm x 20cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £18.00 at time of booking
• Not available after booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Seat selection
• Instant boarding pass
• Unlimited date changes
• Fast-track security in major airports
NON-PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 small personal bag (under seat)
SIZE
• 40cm x 30cm x 20cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg
COST OF CHECK-IN BAG
10kg
• £6.50 at time of booking
• £11.00 after booking
20kg
• £13.00 – £55.50 at time of booking
• £51.00 after booking
32kg
• £17.50 – £69.00 at time of booking
• £111.50 after booking
PRIORITY PASSENGERS
HAND LUGGAGE
• 1 cabin bag
• 1 trolley bag
SIZE
• 40cm x 30cm x 20cm
• 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
WEIGHT
• 10kg cabin bag
• Trolley bag no limit
COST OF PRIORITY BOARDING
• £4.50 – £14.00 at time of booking
• £22.50 after booking
BENEFITS OF PRIORITY PASS
• Priority boarding
• Skip the baggage belt with the additional on-board trolley bag