In a change to existing policy, low-cost airline Ryanair will increase the staff bonus for identifying oversized hand luggage from €1.50 to €2.50 per bag. Additionally, the airline will remove the cap on how much staff can earn in bonuses, which was previously limited to €80 per month.
The change in policy can be expected to cause headaches for passengers who will be more likely to see their carry-on baggage subjected to added fees.
Currently, Ryanair passengers may carry one small item for free, such as a handbag or laptop bag, with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 20 cm and a weight limit of 10 kg. To bring another, or larger, carry-on bag—such as a 10 kg wheelie suitcase—passengers must pay for the “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags” option in advance.
Early booking for this option generally costs between €12 and €36, with prices rising if added later through the “manage booking” feature on the Ryanair website.
What are the penalties for breaking the rules?
If a passenger is caught with an oversize bag without having paid ahead of time, the bag is removed and placed in the aircraft hold, space permitting.Â
READ ALSO: Where in Europe is Ryanair scrapping flights this year?
The standard penalty fee for gate-checked carry-on luggage is €75 and passengers don’t have the option of simply paying to take an oversize carry-on bag into the cabin, meaning that passengers have to deal with the added inconvenience of waiting at baggage reclaim.
Ryanair passengers are also charged €13 for every kilogram that their bag is overweight.
According to CEO Michael O’Leary, approximately 200,000 passengers annually – about 0.1 percent of Ryanair’s 200 million customers – are caught with oversized bags and face these fees. O’Leary dismissed passengers attempting to bypass the regulations as “chancers” and emphasised that the airline is enforcing rules to maintain low fares and punctual flights.
At a return of €75 for every €2.50 invested, cracking down on “chancers” makes sound business sense for the airline.
EU plans to ban hand luggage fees
Meanwhile, the European Union is advancing legislation designed to prohibit airlines from charging extra fees for carrying a small personal item plus one cabin bag on flights within, to, and from the EU.
READ ALSO: EU lawmakers vote to ban airlines from charging fees for hand luggage
Although the proposal has passed a committee stage and is expected to become law by late 2025, it hasn't yet been finalized or enacted. Ryanair has said the new law is likely to result in increased ticket prices and reduced consumer choice.
Industry-wide practice
Ryanair is not the only airline which offers employees financial incentives to enforce hand luggage rules. Rival low-cost carriers like EasyJet reportedly reward staff for identifying oversized carry-on baggage, often at a rate of around €1.40 per item.
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