Ryanair boosts bonuses for spotting baggage cheats

In the United Kingdom, Ryanair, a leading low-cost airline, announced its plans to enhance the incentives given to staff for catching passengers attempting to bring oversized carry-on bags onboard. Starting from November 2025, the company will raise the staff bonus from 1.50 euros to 2.50 euros for each oversized bag detected, while also removing the previous cap of 80 euros per month on total awards. The airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, expressed his frustration with the number of passengers who try to bypass the baggage fee rules, highlighting the importance of stricter enforcement by ground-handling personnel. Currently, Ryanair allows free boarding of smaller cabin bags and charges fees for larger luggage. The airline noted that approximately 200,000 passengers annually pay fees for excess baggage, constituting a small fraction of the 200 million who traveled with them the previous year. With the enforcement of their bag-size policies having been confirmed earlier this year, O'Leary’s announcement is lined with the company’s intent to crack down on fare evasion and ensure compliance with carry-on size regulations. Similar bonus systems are also reported to be in place within other airlines, indicating a trend towards stringent carry-on enforcement in the industry. This new incentive aligns with Ryanair's broader operational goals, which include increasing revenue through various means, including passenger fees. During a press conference, O'Leary voiced his perplexity about why some passengers believe they can escape notice by attempting to carry larger bags. Alongside Ryanair's operational adjustments, the company has been expanding its route offerings while advocating against government-imposed fees that complicate air travel for their customers. Moreover, O'Leary has acknowledged the challenges surrounding the airline's sustainability efforts, particularly in relation to the use of sustainable aircraft fuel. As Ryanair prepares to implement this policy, it reflects a growing urgency within the airline industry to maintain financial viability amid rising costs and regulatory changes. Passengers should expect increased scrutiny during boarding as staff are incentivized to identify and address baggage compliance issues. The effectiveness of this strategy in curbing oversized baggage and its related delays, which significantly impact flight schedules, is yet to be determined but signals a clear shift in Ryanair's approach to enforcing its baggage policies.