Ryanair's enforcement of carry-on size limits has become "very strict," according to recent travelers who watched fellow passengers pay €60 per bag for the crime of overpacking. For onebagging enthusiasts and budget travelers, the message is clear: airlines are cracking down.

An r/onebag poster flying from Austria to Italy documented their experience with Ryanair's personal item sizer—a rigid frame that bags must fit into to qualify as "carry-on." The crew was actively checking bags, and "so many people that overpacked and had to pay an additional €60 per bag."

The poster shared proof that the Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC 22L fits the Ryanair personal item sizer—but only when packed strategically, not stuffed to the brim. Their bag weighed 5.7kg total and fit "perfectly" with room to squeeze if necessary.

What's particularly notable: the Ryanair sizers appear primarily at certain airports (Austria, Italy, Spain, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Romania) but are less common or differently configured elsewhere. Some Reddit threads mention Berlin using an even stricter sizer with only two closed sides, making it harder to pass.

The pattern suggests budget airlines are tightening enforcement as a revenue strategy. Checked bag fees, oversized carry-on fees, and "priority boarding" packages (which include slightly larger bags) have become significant profit centers. Ryanair earned over €1 billion from ancillary fees in recent years, with baggage fees a major component.

For travelers, the implications are significant:

Pack with compression in mind. Bags should fit size requirements with space to spare, not require force to cram into the sizer.