As icy conditions continue across Ireland, plenty of people are already fantasising about a much needed break, reports The Mirror.
However, with the cost of living crisis still biting, holidaymakers are searching for ways to cut expenses — and one of the simplest methods is packing efficiently.
Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus are introducing changes to their hand luggage policies for 2026, making it crucial for passengers to understand exactly what is permitted onboard, reports The Mirror.
Ryanair allows travellers to bring one small bag that fits under the seat at no extra cost, while Aer Lingus permits a larger 10kg carry-on bag in addition to a personal item.
Arriving at the airport with luggage that exceeds size or weight limits can result in hefty extra charges, so it’s always advisable to carefully check the airline’s rules in advance, reports The Mirror.
There has also been a significant update at Dublin Airport, where the long established 100ml liquids restriction has finally been eased due to the introduction of next generation security scanners, reports The Mirror.
Travellers are now allowed to bring up to two litres of liquids and gels, and laptops, tablets and other electronics no longer need to be taken out of bags during screening.
However, passengers flying back from locations in Europe or the UK are advised to check the rules at their departure airport, as not all facilities have rolled out the same scanner technology, reports The Mirror.
Here’s a full breakdown of what you need to know about Ryanair and Aer Lingus hand luggage rules for 2026, reports The Mirror.
Ryanair
All travellers are permitted to bring one small personal bag onboard free of charge, provided it fits beneath the seat in front of them. From 2026, the updated size limit for this bag is 40 x 30 x 20 cm, following a recent change from the previous dimensions of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, reports The Mirror.
Cabin bags that exceed the permitted size may be refused at the boarding gate or, where possible, placed into the aircraft hold for an additional charge 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 has recently revised its baggage rules to offer two 10kg bag options on European routes. If your booking does not already include a 10kg bag and you wish to bring one onboard, you can add a ‘10kg carry-on bag’ starting from €9.99, reports The Mirror.
As another option, travellers can leave their bag at the check-in desk or a bag drop kiosk — available in Dublin, Shannon and London — once check-in opens, and then collect it from the baggage carousel after landing. This service is provided free of charge.
Passengers who bring a 10kg bag to the boarding gate without having purchased a carry-on with priority boarding, or if it is not part of their ticket, will be required to pay a €35 charge to have the bag placed in the aircraft hold, reports The Mirror.
All customers are still entitled to bring a small personal item at no extra cost, such as a small handbag, laptop bag or baby changing bag. The maximum dimensions for this item have been increased to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, up from the previous allowance of 25cm x 33cm x 20cm.
Regarding items that are not permitted in hand luggage on Aer Lingus flights, a spokesperson said: “These are the prohibited items on all Aer Lingus aircraft (includes Aer Lingus Regional flights):”, reports The Mirror.
“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.
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