Ryanair is a favoured airline among many British travellers thanks to its cheap fares and vast array of destination options.

But passengers do have to be wary of being stung by additional fees, particularly when it comes to luggage as the airline has strict rules on the size of bags you can take on board for free. Ryanair’s current bag policy states that all passenger fare types include a small personal bag that can be carried on board, but it must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. If it’s too big then you can take additional baggage with you - at an extra cost.

A small carry-on bag can be a handbag, laptop bag or a backpack, with a maximum size of 40 x 20 x 25cm. All bags of this size are free to carry onboard with you and must be placed underneath the seat in front of you. All bags that are larger than these dimensions face an extra charge on Ryanair, so if you’re going away for more than a couple of days it’s likely you’ll have to fork out a bit extra for your luggage.

You can take a small cabin bag onboard with you with a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 20cm, and maximum weight of 10kg, and this must be stored in the overhead locker on the plane.

To take an extra cabin bag with you (in addition to your small carry-on), this costs between £6 and £36 at the time of booking, or between £20 and £60 post-booking or at the airport.

Ryanair says if the option to add two cabin bags to your booking is sold out, then you can still add a 10kg check-in bag but this will need to be dropped off at the airport check-in desk before going through security.

It costs around £44.99 to add a 10kg check-in bag to your booking, although Ryanair says the fee may vary depending on the route and travel dates.

If you’re going on a long holiday then it’s likely you’ll need to take a much bigger suitcase with you, in which case you can pay to take a bag with a maximum weight of 20kg and no bigger than 55 x 40 x 20cm. This must be dropped off at the airport check-in desk before security.

Passengers can buy up to three checked bags of 20kg on their booking at a cost of £59.99 each per flight. Again, the fee may vary depending on the route and the date you’re travelling.

Additionally, passengers who are travelling with an infant are allowed to carry two items of baby equipment free of charge per child. There’s no cabin bag allowance for infants aged between eight days and 23 months inclusive). The airline also allows a baby bag up to 5kg, with a maximum size of 45x35x20cm, for babies travelling on an adult's lap.

Ryanair says: “You must adhere strictly to the baggage allowance on your booking. If your small bag or 10kg cabin bag does not fit in the baggage sizers, which are placed at every boarding gate, we will tag your bag and place it in the aircraft hold subject to payment of a gate bag fee. You can collect it on the baggage carousel at your arrival airport.”

Customers who bring an oversize bag - over 55 x 40 x 20cm - face a charge between £/€ 70 and £/€ 75 at the gate to check it in.