Ryanair Raises Oversized Bag Bonuses
- Ryanair will likely raise the incentive paid to gate staff for identifying passengers attempting to bring oversized luggage onboard from €1.50 to €2.50 per bag, starting in November...
- The move aims to deter passengers from attempting to bypass the airline's strict luggage rules,which charge fees for bags too large to fit under the seat in front...
- Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's Chief Executive, stated he makes "absolutely no apology" for enforcing the luggage rules and charging passengers who attempt to circumvent them.
Ryanair to Increase Fees for Oversized Luggage, CEO Defends Strict Policy
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– Ryanair plans to increase incentives for its gate staff to enforce luggage size restrictions, adn its CEO, Michael O’Leary, has staunchly defended the airline’s policy of charging passengers for oversized bags.
Increased Incentives for Luggage Enforcement
Ryanair will likely raise the incentive paid to gate staff for identifying passengers attempting to bring oversized luggage onboard from €1.50 to €2.50 per bag, starting in November 2023. According to remarks made at a press conference in central London, the airline is also removing the current monthly cap of €80 on thes incentive payments.
The move aims to deter passengers from attempting to bypass the airline’s strict luggage rules,which charge fees for bags too large to fit under the seat in front of the passenger. Only one small bag meeting these dimensions is included in the lowest fares.
CEO Defends “No-Nonsense” Approach
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, stated he makes “absolutely no apology” for enforcing the luggage rules and charging passengers who attempt to circumvent them. He characterized those attempting to bring oversized bags onboard as “scamming the system.”
“I want our ground handling people to be catching people who are scamming the system,” O’Leary said. He expressed surprise at the continued attempts by passengers to bring larger rucksacks onboard undetected, stating, “We will, and you will be paying for the rucksack. You’re not getting on if it doesn’t fit.”
Scale of the Issue and Airline Strategy
Ryanair estimates that approximately 200,000 passengers per year are charged luggage fees at the boarding gate. The airline carried 200 million passengers in the year ending March 2023.O’Leary indicated the airline aims to reduce this number through stricter enforcement.
“We want everybody to comply with the rules. If you comply with the rules, no issues,” O’Leary emphasized. “We are running a very efficient, very affordable, very low-cost airline, and we’re not letting anybody get in the way.”