I've ditched hand luggage fees for cabin bag cheaper than two in-flight meals (original) (raw)

Paying for an airplane ticket these days can feel like you're just paying for the basics, as airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, WhizzAir and many more charge passengers extra to sit together, board early, and even bring luggage onboard. My trusty under-the-seat bag from Cabin Max has helped me avoid those dreaded airport bag fees.

Along with my passport, it's become an essential travel item and since purchasing 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 blessing 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 flashy Prime sale. I paid just under £40 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.

Cabin Max bag in navy blue

Cabin Max bag in navy blue (Image: Amazon)

Now, travellers looking for a way to take a free carry-on can get the Metz 20L backpack for only £18.95 - that's 53% less than usual, reports MyLondon.

When comparing baggage policies, it turns out that bringing a sizable cabin bag on Ryanair, featuring the convenience of priority boarding, can set you back anywhere from £6 to £36—this depends on your chosen flight's route and its current demand levels. If your bag is deemed excessively large at the gate, you could be hit with a hefty fee.

As outlined by Ryanair's website: "Customers who bring an oversize bag (over 55x40x20cm) to the gate may check it in upon payment of a fee of £/€ 70.00 - £/€ 75.00. The price at the airport/call centre/kiosk is €/£12 per extra kilo."

My selected backpack, with dimensions of 40 x 25 x 20 cm, matches perfectly with Ryanair's allowance and slides comfortably into their bag sizer, while also fitting within the limits for easyJet and Wizz Air’s cabins. It's slightly more compact than another style I've previously used measuring 40 x 20 x 25 cm—which I've successfully managed to carry on without extra charges before, even when staff checked its size.

Since it's a soft case, overpacking can cause it to exceed the allowed dimensions, but a trick that often helps is releasing some air by opening the zipper while fitting it into the sizer. This method has always worked in my favour.

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This particular style, the Metz, is available in 18 different colours, but only the Atlantic Blue version is currently discounted to £18.95. The bag is made from recycled fabric, making it an environmentally friendly option, according to the brand.

Over 100 customers have purchased this bag from Amazon in the past month, with many leaving positive reviews. As someone who has used this bag on flights to over seven countries, the reviewer swears by the brand, having never experienced any issues with the zip breaking or being charged extra.

However, some customers have reported problems, such as one reviewer who said: "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." In addition to Amazon and Cabin Max, other retailers such as Antler and Dunelm also offer under-the-seat bags that meet airline carry-on restrictions.

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