Ryanair boosts bonuses for staff catching carry-on bag cheats

In the United Kingdom, Ryanair has announced plans to raise the bonus it pays to staff for identifying oversized carry-on luggage from €1.50 to €2.50, starting in November 2025. This increase comes amid the airline's ongoing efforts to enforce its baggage policy more strictly. Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief executive, expressed his frustration at the number of passengers attempting to evade the system with oversized bags, noting that many seem to think that ground staff will overlook violations. O'Leary emphasized that these passengers will be caught, and they will incur fees for their excessive baggage. Ryanair, known for its budget-friendly fares but strict extra charges, allows each passenger to carry a small bag for free, while larger carry-ons incur fees starting at €6, with penalties reaching up to €75 for noncompliance. Over 200,000 passengers annually pay for excess baggage, which is a small fraction compared to the total of 200 million passengers that flew with Ryanair last year. This new initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase revenue through better enforcement of their baggage policies. Additionally, Ryanair is set to enhance its services by expanding its routes and has suggested several regulatory changes to the UK government. Among these requests, O'Leary has called for the abolition of the airline passenger duty tax as well as improvements to the country's air traffic control system. The airline is also navigating the complex landscape of sustainable aviation fuel, stating that its current usage is at 2%, far below government targets. Overall, these moves by Ryanair reflect not only a response to operational challenges but also align with ongoing trends in the airline industry toward stricter enforcement of policies and efficiency measures. By incentivizing its staff to catch baggage violators more effectively, Ryanair aims to deter passengers from attempting to sneak oversized bags onto flights.