If you're early for your flight, it can be tempting to get in the queue as soon as your gate is announced, just to be one of the first on the plane.

Meanwhile, some of us take a more laid-back approach and prefer to join the back of the queue once things have died down a bit.

But if you're flying with Ryanair - and carrying hand luggage - you might want to rethink your approach.

The budget airline has a very strict policy when it comes to hand luggage, including what items you can carry onto the plane.

And it's about to get a lot stricter, reports The Mirror.

Carrying hand luggage? Don't wait at the back of the queue
Carrying hand luggage? Don't wait at the back of the queue

As it stands, Ryanair only has enough space in its cabin for 90 pieces of carry-on luggage.

That means if you're not at the front of the queue with your tiny bag or case, it could mean you'll have to put it in hold.

You'll have to wait at the end of your flight with everyone else while your luggage is brought off the plane and onto the carousel at the other end - delaying that all important start to your break.

A Ryanair spokesman said: "Due to overhead locker cabin space limitations, only 90 normal cabin bags (55 x 40 x 20 cms) can be carried in the cabin and any remaining normal cabin bags can be carried free of charge in the aircraft hold.

"Both carry-on bags must fit in the sizer at the boarding gate and any oversized cabin bags will be refused, or where available, placed in the aircraft hold for a fee of £50/€50."

And the news has come as a shock to many Ryanair passengers, who are not happy about having to put what they thought was hand luggage in the hold.

Not only were people unaware of the policy, some even complained that their hand luggage was damaged in the hold.

And as of November, the airline's hand luggage rules will be even stricter.

Currently, Ryanair allows passengers two pieces of carry-on luggage - one 55 x 40 x 20 cms, and the other a smaller bag, such as a handbag or laptop bag.

But from November 1, this will be scrapped for everyone other than those people who choose to pay for 'priority boarding'.

This will cost £5 when you initially book, or £6 if you add it later.

Ryanair cabins only have space for 90 bags
Ryanair cabins only have space for 90 bags

A spokesman for the airline said: "Too many customers are availing of Ryanair’s 2 free carry-on bags service, and with high load factors (97% in August) there is not enough overhead cabin space for this volume of carry-on bags, which is causing boarding/flight delays."

So if you want things to be even speedier, you could try just taking one bagtoo.