Nailing down that hand baggage policy
As Hot Chocolate would say, no doubt about it - Ryanair has DEFINITELY got either a) an urge to up the profit-per-punter-per-flight or b) introduced a coherent and consistent policy about carry-on bags.
I have just returned from my second flight to the Iberian Peninsula (Ed. - please check speeling) in two weeks and on both legs of the journey all carry-ons were checked for size.
Nay bother for me, as I no longer carry bulky mags for my business partner.
Going out earlier this week, the flight was full - not a seat to be had anywhere - so the checking was probably due to the fact that they KNEW there would not have been enough overhead space for all the carry-ons.
So, more profitable and less hassle on board to catch a few hapless people at the departure gate and squeeze some dosh out of them because they haven't followed "ze rules".
Cynical? Moi?
Coming back to the UK, everything was again checked for size - which is when "the incident"  happened.
Getting my bag into the I-can't-believe-it's-not-the-right-size contraption went smoothly.
Getting it out again was a different matter.
Eventually, under the watchful, but unhelpful, eye of the Bag Monitor, I extracted it from its cage - and left behind half a torn finger nail.
However, I am delighted to report that after catching the spikey nail twice early in the flight - once when securing seat belts and again when pulling down the drinks tray - an attentive member of the cabin crew spotted the problem and, without being asked, offered to get me a plaster for the offending appendage.
Now that's service. I'd have fallen off my chair if I had been sitting on one.
Wonder if my travel insurance covers ripped nails?

Priority cabin baggage?
Flying back to Blighty from the sunshine last week, EVERY item of cabin baggage was checked for size at the departure gate.
I haven't seen so much hammering, huffing and puffing since woodwork classes at my old school.
From what I could see before boarding, an enormous amount of adjustment and pocket-filling finally resulted in all the bags tested making it through.
So, is this a sign of some consistency at last?
I ask because I have seen it all in the past, from people getting on board with a case the size of a small African country to a passenger stopped and told he must put his airport-branded plastic bag containing a sandwich, newspaper and scarf into his trolley-dolley bag.
Perhaps Ryanair have decided apply their rules to everyone, on every flight.
Actually, that would be great, as we low-costers would know exactly where we stand.
Or did word come out from head office that there was a bonus available for staff for every item of over-sized hand baggage "seized" and put into the hold, making the flight just that bit more profitable? It wouldn't be the first time.
Or maybe it is just a sign that Ryanair's strategy of telling us how we should fly finally coming home to roost?
For on a busy flight, as most are during the heavily cutback low season, there just isn't enough overhead locker space for everyone to take cabin baggage only.
Sure, you can put it under the seat in front , but have you ever had to do that? It's agony.
So what is Ryanair's end game?
Well, how long until we have to pay a "Priority Cabin Baggage" charge of, say £5 per case each way, if you  want overhead storage? Sounds impossible - or is it?
Answers on a postcard, please.
See SPACED OUT MAN from May 2011 for a related post.