Her’s how Ryanair and Aer Lingus are shaking up hand luggage rules for 2026, from updated bag sizes to new 100ml liquid limits.
09:05, 07 Jan 2026
Her’s how Ryanair and Aer Lingus are shaking up hand luggage rules for 2026, from updated bag sizes to new 100ml liquid limits.
With freezing weather gripping Ireland, many are already dreaming of a well deserved getaway. But with the cost of living crisis ongoing, travellers are looking for ways to save – and one of the easiest ways to cut costs is by packing smart.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus are both shaking up their hand luggage rules for 2026, making it more important than ever to know what you can take onboard. Ryanair lets passengers bring one small bag under the seat for free, while Aer Lingus allows a larger 10kg carry on plus a personal item.
Turning up at the airport with a bag that’s too big or too heavy can end up costing a sizeable amount, so it’s always worth double checking what the airline’s policy is.
There’s also a major change at Dublin Airport. The long standing 100ml liquids rule is finally relaxed thanks to next generation security scanners. Passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquids and gels, and laptops, tablets and electronics no longer need to be removed from bags.
However, travellers returning from destinations in Europe or the UK should check the rules at their departure airport, as not all have implemented the same scanners.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ryanair and Aer Lingus hand luggage rules for 2026.
Ryanair
All passenger can bring onboard a small personal bag for free, which must fit under the seat in front of you. The new size for this bag in 2026 is 40 x 30 x 20 cm, having recently increased from 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.
Oversized cabin baggage may be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee of €70.
A spokesperson said: “If your carry-on baggage is too large it will not be allowed through the boarding gate. In this case it will be placed in the plane’s hold and you will have to pay a fee of €70.00 (plus VAT on domestic flights).”
When it comes to items banned from hand luggage on Ryanair, a spokesperson said: “The following items are strictly prohibited on board and in checked baggage:
“Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles – devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:
- firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns,
- toy guns (including recreational guns such as paint ball guns), replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons,
- component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights,
- compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns,
- signal flare pistols and starter pistols,
- bows, cross bows and arrows,
- harpoon guns, spear guns and nail guns,
- slingshots and catapults,
- stun guns, tasers, cattle prods and lasers;
“Stunning devices – devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise, including:
- devices for shocking, such as stun guns, tasers and stun batons,
- animal stunners and animal killers,
- disabling and incapacitating chemicals, gases and gas containers, sprays, including tear gas, mace, pepper sprays, capsicum sprays, acid sprays and animal repellent sprays;
“Explosives and incendiary substances and devices – explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including:
- Ammunition,
- Blasting caps,
- Detonators and fuses,
- Replica or imitation explosive devices,
- Mines, grenades and other explosive military stores,
- Fireworks and other pyrotechnics,
- Smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges,
- Dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives,
- Flammable liquids, flammable solids and substances that cause a chemical reaction,
- Paint, turpentine, white spirit and paint thinner,
- Alcohol with an ABV of more than 70% (140% proof),
- Toxic or infectious substances (for example, acids and alkalis, ‘wet’ batteries, bleach, poisons, infected blood, and bacteria and viruses),
- Radioactive material, including medicinal or commercial isotopes,
- Corrosives, including mercury, vehicle batteries, and parts which have contained fuel,
- More than one litre in total of edible oil (for example, olive oil),
- Lithium ion battery-powered vehicles (including segways and hoverboards) other than any wheelchair or mobility equipment that meets our regulations,
- Smart bags which the lithium battery has not been removed from,
- Fire extinguishers (except as authorised by fire procedures and as emergency equipment on the plane)
- Lighters and firelighters with a flammable liquid reservoir containing unabsorbed liquid fuel (other than liquefied gas), lighter fuel and lighter refills,
- “Strike anywhere” matches,
- Christmas crackers,
- Energy-saving light bulbs,
- Items with internal combustion engines.
“Items which are prohibited by a law, regulation or order of any country or state your plane is flying to or from.
“Items which we have good reason to believe are unsuitable for carriage because:
- they are dangerous or unsafe;
- of their weight, size, shape or character; or
- are fragile or perishable.
“Fish, birds or any animals killed and kept as hunting trophies.”
The spokesperson added: “Additionally, the following items must not be carried on board, but may be carried as part of your checked baggage:
“Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge – Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:
- Items designed for chopping, such axes, hatchets and cleavers,
- Ice axes, ice picks and ice skates,
- Razors and razor blades (except safety or disposable razors with enclosed blades and razor heads held in plastic compartments),
- Box cutters,
- Knives with blades of more than 6cm, including lockable or flick knives, ceremonial or religious knives and hunting knives made of metal or any other material strong enough to be used as a potential weapon, craft knives and utility knives and scrapers,
- Scissors with blades of more than 6cm, as measured from the fulcrum,
- Martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge, including throwing stars,
- Swords and sabres,
- Swordsticks, meat cleavers, machetes, Scalpels, crampons, grappling irons, hooked bars of iron and plates with iron spikes used in mountaineering,
- Harpoons and spears,
- Ski poles and walking or hiking poles;
- Any sharp objects in your checked-in luggage should be securely wrapped to prevent injury to any staff who need to handle it.
“Workmen’s tools – tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:
- crowbars,
- drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills,
- tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels,
- saws, including cordless portable power saws,
- blowtorches,
- bolt guns and nail guns,
- hammers, pliers, wrenches and spanners;
“Blunt instruments – objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:
- Baseball and softball bats,
- Clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks,
- Martial arts equipment (for example, knuckledusters, coshes, flails),
- Tennis rackets, squash rackets and so on,
- Cricket bats,
- Hockey sticks, hurley sticks and lacrosse sticks,
- Kayak and canoe paddles,
- Skateboards,
- Billiard, snooker and pool cues,
- Darts,
- Fishing rods.”
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus recently updated its baggage policy to include two 10kg bag options, applicable on flights within Europe. If you would like to take a 10kg bag on board with you and your booking does not include it, you can book ’10kg carry-on bag’ from €9.99.
Alternatively, passengers can drop their bag off at the check in desk or bag drop kiosk (available in Dublin, Shannon and London) when check in opens and collect it again at the bag carousel when you land. This option is free.
If you bring your 10kg bag to the boarding gate and have not purchased a carry on bag with priority boarding or it is not included in your booking, you will be charged a €35 fee to place this bag in the aircraft hold
A small personal item, described as small handbag, laptop bag or baby changing bag, is still included for all customers free of charge. Its maximum size has increased to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, from the previous limit of 25cm x 33cm x 20cm.
When it comes to items banned from hand luggage on Aer Lingus, a spokesperson said: “These are the prohibited items on all Aer Lingus aircraft (includes Aer Lingus Regional flights):
“Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles-devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:
- firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns
- toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons
- component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights
- compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns
- signal flare pistols and starter pistols
- bows, cross bows and arrows
- harpoon guns and spear guns
- slingshots and catapults
“Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge -objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:
- items designed for chopping, such as axes, hatchets and cleavers
- ice axes and ice picks
- razor blades
- box cutters
- knives with blades of more than 6 cm
- scissors with blades of more than 6 cm as measured from the fulcrum
- martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge
- swords and sabres
“Stunning devices – devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise, including:
- devices for shocking, such as stun guns, tasers and stun batons
- animal stunners and animal killers
- disabling and incapacitating chemicals, gases and sprays, such as mace, pepper sprays, capsicum sprays, tear gas, acid sprays and animal repellent sprays
“Workmen’s tools-tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:
- crowbars
- drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills
- tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels
- saws, including cordless portable power saws
- blowtorches
- bolt guns and nail guns
“Blunt instruments-objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:
- baseball and softball bats
- clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks
- martial arts equipment;
“Explosives and incendiary substances and devices-explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including:
- ammunition
- blasting caps
- detonators and fuses
- replica or imitation explosive devices
- mines, grenades and other explosive military stores
- fireworks and other pyrotechnics
- smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges
- dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives.”
There are also some restricted items on Aer Lingus flights, which include:
“Perishable goods (such as meat, dairy, or produce) or medication may be restricted by government regulations. Please review the requirements of the countries you are entering to ensure compliance, to avoid issues on arrival. Items must be properly packed to ensure safe transport and to protect against breakage, leakage, or similar.
“Smart Luggage is a bag (rucksack, suitcase or similar) that may contain a lithium battery/power bank. This device is often used to recharge personal electronic devices (PEDs) i.e. phones, tablets, laptops etc. or provide electro-motive power that provides propulsion to the suitcase.
“Smart Luggage will not be accepted on flights if:
- If the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily removed by the passenger
- If the wattage rating (Wh) of the lithium battery/power bank is more than 100Wh, or the Wh rating cannot be determined (e.g. not marked on the battery/power bank case)
“If the lithium battery/power bank can be removed, the smart luggage is permitted for carriage, subject to the following conditions;
- The lithium battery must be removed and carried in the aircraft cabin with the terminals protected against short circuit.
- The lithium battery must have a capacity of less than 100Wh.
“Electric bicycles may only be carried if the battery is removed and will then be checked in as a normal bicycle and the rules above will apply.
“Electric scooters are not permitted for carriage unless the scooter is a mobility device whose function is to assist an individual with a qualified disability. You will need to request to take a mobility device in advance.
“Segways are strictly prohibited both as checked or cabin baggage aboard Aer Lingus aircraft. Segways are small two wheeled motorised vehicle used as a convenient mode of transport. There are many names and brand names associated with such vehicles – Segways, Swagways, Swegways, Mini Swegways ‘Hoverboards’ etc. All such vehicles are strictly prohibited.
“Aer Lingus has been advised that the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an emergency order banning all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation in the United States and Canada. Passengers who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States.
“For flights to the United States, transporting more than 350 ml / 12 oz of powdered and powder like substance in the cabin is prohibited. Powder-like substances means fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing, or disintegration of a solid substance and maybe presented in clumpy, grainy, or compressed material forms (for example, flour, sugar, ground coffee, spices, powdered milk and cosmetics). Powder in greater quantities than 350 ml / 12 oz must be transported in checked baggage.
“Exceptions: Medically prescribed powders, baby food, and powders purchased duty-free, placed in a sealed security tamper-evident bag (STEB). These may be subjected to screening by airport security.
“Loose batteries: Batteries can short circuit and catch fire if they are carried loose in your bag. Loose batteries must be protected against contact with other metal items (e.g. by being in their original packaging or own protective case) and carried in your hand baggage.”
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