THERE we were at Liverpool Airport with email check-in tickets at the ready, waiting to enter the departure lounge when there was a traffic jam as a girl in three jumpers and two coats fell over.

"New hand baggage restrictions," said the attractive Ryanair girl manning a barricade. "The size has been reduced."

"Since when?" said a young man in front of me.

"Since this morning," she said.

"That’s a bit short notice," he said.

If bags didn’t fit a metal size-o-meter located at the side of the barricade, it couldn’t go and had to be consigned to the hold at extra cost.

Which was why people were putting on extra jumpers and clothes and wearing two pairs of shoes to reduce the bulges in their bags.

The grumbles, however, were philosophical. After all, this was Ryanair, the airline that charges for everything. The airline whose Chief Executive Michael O’Leary has touted the idea of standing room only tickets for flights and charging a pound to use the onboard loo.

Suggestions that raise a smile because O’Leary likes a good headline, but then there is always the chance he is serious.

Ryanair has always had strict hand luggage restrictions. Only one case or bag of a stipulated size can be taken on board. Handbags must go inside.

In the past, passengers have abused the system and bags big enough for kitchen sinks have been hefted on board. There was one huge carry-on the size of a sofa, I remember, that took two men to stuff in the overhead locker which didn’t leave a lot of room for anyone else. Maybe there was a small person inside trying to avoid the cost of a flight.

Which actually is a bit silly when you look at the prices. Book a ticket well in advance and it is cheaper to fly to Ireland than go to Leeds.

My wife and I paid £8 return each for our trip to Derry. That’s £16 in total – taxes and charges included. This is remarkable value by any standards

We have two carry-on bags well within the stipulated size of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm that slotted into the size-o-meter with ease.

I think the young Ryanair girl had it wrong when she said these were new size restrictions. The airline was imposing the existing restrictions that had been regularly abused.

What they should have done was be specific on their website and send out warning emails that the restrictions were at last being applied, but they have never been great on public relations regarding their customers.

As we waited to board, a disgruntled passenger said, "If there was an alternative to Ryanair, I’d use it."

But on that particular flight, there is no alternative. They have a monopoly which will probably continue for a very long time because other airlines simply cannot compete.

O’Leary may be brash and many people may not like his style, but Ryanair continues to be a success despite the recession.

And at £8 return, I’ll continue to be one of his customers.