Ryanair vs easyJet vs Wizz Air: which is cheapest once you add bags?

Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air can all be excellent value. They can also be difficult to compare if you only look at the first fare shown on a flight search page.

The reason is simple: each airline has its own baggage model. The cheapest result for someone travelling with a small under-seat bag may not be the cheapest result for someone who needs an overhead cabin bag or checked suitcase.

This guide compares the baggage logic behind the three airlines, not a fixed price list. Fees can change by route, date, demand, fare type, and when you add the bag. Always check the live airline policy before booking.

Quick comparison

Airline	Typical included bag on basic fares	Common paid baggage choices	Why it can change the cheapest flight
Ryanair	Small personal bag	Priority with second cabin bag, checked bags	A very low base fare can rise once overhead or checked bags are added.
easyJet	Small under-seat cabin bag	Large cabin bag, hold luggage, fare bundles	A seat or fare choice can affect whether a large cabin bag is included.
Wizz Air	Small carry-on bag	WIZZ Priority cabin trolley, checked bags	Priority and checked luggage can change the total quickly.

Ryanair baggage: low fare, clear add-on choices

Ryanair says all fares include one small personal bag that must fit under the seat. Its bag policy lists additional options, including Priority boarding with a second cabin bag and checked bag options.

That model can work well if you travel light. If all you need is a small backpack or laptop bag, the headline fare may stay close to the final fare.

The comparison changes when you need more luggage. Add an overhead cabin bag for each passenger, or checked bags for a longer trip, and another airline’s higher starting fare may become competitive.

easyJet baggage: small bag included, large cabin bag is a separate decision

easyJet’s cabin bag guidance separates small under-seat cabin bags from large cabin bags. It also explains that large cabin bags can be included through some fare or seat choices, or added separately where available.

That means the cheapest easyJet option depends on the passenger’s setup. A traveller happy with a small under-seat bag may not need to add anything. A traveller who wants an overhead bag should compare the cost of adding the bag separately against choosing a fare or seat option that includes it.

For families, this matters even more. A small difference per passenger can become a large difference across four people and two flight sectors.

Wizz Air baggage: priority can be the turning point

Wizz Air’s model is similar in spirit to other low-cost carriers: the basic travel setup is light, and extra luggage usually requires an add-on or upgraded service. Its published conditions describe a small cabin bag allowance and an extra onboard baggage option through certain services such as priority.

For comparison shopping, the key question is not only “what is the fare?” It is “what is the fare once WIZZ Priority or checked luggage is included for every passenger who needs it?”

Wizz Air can still be the best value. The point is to compare it against Ryanair and easyJet using the same baggage setup.

The mistake travellers make

The common mistake is comparing different products as if they are the same.

A Ryanair fare with only a small personal bag is not the same product as an easyJet fare with a large cabin bag or a Wizz Air booking with priority and checked luggage. They may appear in the same results list, but they do not include the same trip.

The better comparison is:

• Ryanair with the bags you need.
• easyJet with the bags you need.
• Wizz Air with the bags you need.

Only then can you tell which airline is genuinely cheapest.

Example: weekend trip vs family holiday

For a weekend trip, one traveller with a small backpack may find the lowest base fare is still the best deal. In that case, baggage-aware comparison confirms the bargain.

For a week away, two adults and two children might need several cabin bags, one checked suitcase, or both. A small bag fee multiplied by four passengers and two legs can erase the difference between airlines.

That is why family and group bookings should be compared by total trip cost from the start.

How Fly with Bags simplifies the comparison

Fly with Bags is designed to compare these airlines by the fare you are more likely to pay, not only the fare that looks cheapest at the beginning.

Add the bags you expect to take. Compare the results on the same basis. Then choose the flight that still makes sense after luggage is included.

That is the cleanest way to answer the real question: Ryanair, easyJet, or Wizz Air, which is cheapest for this trip?