Ryanair's hidden fees in 2026: the complete list and how to avoid them

Ryanair's headline fares are tempting. Then you reach checkout and discover the actual price. Seat fees. Baggage charges. Payment surcharges. Boarding pass printing costs. The airline has built its business model around adding fees to an already-low base fare, and 2026 is no exception.

The good news: these fees are predictable. Once you know what Ryanair charges for, you can plan around them and avoid paying for things you don't need.

The main Ryanair fees you'll encounter

Seat selection: Choosing a specific seat costs between £2 and £8 depending on the route and how desirable the seat is. Front rows and exit rows cost more. The cheapest option is to let Ryanair assign you a random seat for free, but you'll have no control over whether you sit by a window or the aisle.

Cabin baggage: Your first small bag is free (think personal rucksack). A second bag or a standard carry-on trolley costs from around £5. Many budget travellers assume a carry-on is included—it isn't. If you're only staying a weekend, avoid this fee entirely by packing light into one personal item.

Checked baggage: Here's where costs escalate quickly. Your first checked bag runs £15–£25 depending on route and how far in advance you book. A second bag costs another £10–£20. This is often cheaper to add during initial booking than at the airport. Compare checked baggage costs against hotel laundry services on longer trips.

Payment fees: Paying by certain credit or debit cards incurs a surcharge, usually around 2% of the total. Debit cards sometimes charge less or nothing. Check Ryanair's payment page before finalising your booking to see which method is cheapest for your card type.

Boarding card printing: Print your own at home for free. Print at the airport and Ryanair charges around £5. This is one of the easiest fees to eliminate—just bring your confirmation email and print before you travel, or use the Ryanair app to display your mobile boarding pass.

Speedy Boarding: Queue jumping costs £5–£8 per direction. Most of the time, you don't need it unless you have an odd connection time or genuinely hate standing in line. Regular boarding is included free.

Priority boarding plus baggage: This bundles priority boarding with one checked bag and one carry-on. Prices vary widely (£20–£40 return depending on route). It's worth calculating: if you're checking a bag anyway, this can be cheaper than paying for the bag separately.

Seat change fees: Want to swap your assigned seat later? Ryanair charges £1–£3 per change. Don't panic-book a premium seat if you're unhappy with your assignment—often a simple online change to a different free seat is available.

Name change fees: Made a typo in your name? Changing it costs around £45 per passenger. Check your booking twice before confirming.

How to avoid these fees

Book everything upfront, but selectively. Prices for baggage and seat selection are lowest when you first book your flight. Don't add them unless you actually need them. If you're only travelling with a personal bag for a city weekend, skip the seat selection. Wait until closer to departure to add baggage if you're undecided about what you're taking.

Pack a personal item instead of a carry-on. A rucksack, small backpack, or messenger bag that fits under the seat in front of you is free. Ryanair's definition of personal item is generous. A 40-litre backpack usually passes. This alone saves £5 each way.

Check the payment method before paying. Different card types incur different surcharges on Ryanair's checkout page. Sometimes switching from a credit card to a debit card—or using a different card altogether—shaves a few pounds off. It takes 30 seconds and is money in your pocket.

Accept the free seat assignment. Unless you have a genuine preference (window for photos, aisle for leg room) or a specific need (travelling with a young child, needing accessible seating), skip the seat fee. You'll get a seat regardless. Ryanair doesn't leave people unseated.

Know the baggage policy before booking. If you need to check a bag, factor this cost into your comparison. Use tools like Plof Air to browse flight and hotel packages together—sometimes a longer trip where you can justify checked baggage is better value than you'd think. Check Barcelona, Lisbon, or Madrid packages to see how flights stack up against the full deal.

Print your boarding pass at home. Obvious but worth repeating. Download the confirmation, print it before you leave, and you've saved £5. Or use the Ryanair app for a digital boarding pass.

Avoid last-minute changes. Every change—seat, name, flight time—carries a fee. Read your booking confirmation carefully before finalising and pay attention to your flight details.

The real lesson

Ryanair's base fares are genuinely cheap. But the airline's final price often isn't competitive once you add the things most travellers need. Compare the total cost (including likely baggage and seat fees) against other carriers before assuming Ryanair is the best deal. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't.

The key is to know exactly what you're paying for. Don't let Ryanair surprise you at checkout. List what you actually need—baggage, a seat preference, priority boarding—and add only those. Everything else is optional.