Ryanair baggage allowance explained: What are the new rules and changes in policy?

Most Ryanair passengers will soon be banned from taking more than one item of hand luggage on board a flight.

The budget airline announced last year that it was changing its policy so that only priority boarding passengers would be allowed to carry two cabin bags.

As it stands, the company allows all passengers to take two bags on with them, but this has caused delays to flights due to lack of space in overhead lockers.

The new rules are due to come into effect on Monday.

Here's everything you need to know to avoid extra charges:

The airline is banning small carry on suitcases and holdalls from its flights – unless passengers pay an extra £10 per return flight for priority boarding.

Last September, Ryanair announced an overhaul of its baggage policy that means non-priority passengers will only be permitted one handbag or laptop bag on board, sized 35cm x 20cm x 20cm.

The bag should easily fit under the airline seat.

Previously passengers were allowed another 10kg item of hand luggage, but this will be placed in the hold free of charge from Monday.

Priority customers, however, will still be allowed to bring two carry-on bags on the aircraft.

Priority boarding costs £5 per flight at the time of booking, and it can be added to a booking for £6 up to one hour before scheduled departure.

Failure to comply with the new policy will result in boarding being denied, the new policy reads.

To make up for the controversial policy changes, the low-cost airline has already introduced reduced checked bag fees and increased check-in bag sizes.

In a bid to encourage more passengers to check bags into the hold, the allowance has been increased from 15kg to 20kg, and the standard check-in bag fee has been cut from £35 to £25.

Ryanair’s marketing boss Kenny Jacobs said the policy is designed to “speed up boarding” and “eliminate flight delays” caused by not having sufficient overhead cabin space on busy flights.

He said: “This will speed up the boarding of flights and eliminate flight delays, alongside our new checked bag policy which offers our customers lower bag fees for a 33 per cent increase in their checked bag allowance.”