Ryanair May Raise Bonus for Staff Spotting Oversized Bags

Airline aims to cut down boarding delays and increase profit margins through tighter baggage enforcement

Incentive Scheme Could Increase for Ground Staff

Ryanair is considering raising the €1.50 bonus for staff who catch passengers with oversized bags. Currently, this “gate bag bonus” is capped at €80 per employee each month, based on excess baggage fees collected. Passengers pay up to €75 if they bring bags larger than their ticket allows.

CEO Michael O’Leary said “Ryanair wants to reward staff who help enforce these rules effectively at boarding gates.” He believes increasing this bonus may reduce oversized baggage violations altogether. Over 99.9% of Ryanair passengers follow bag size and weight rules, according to O’Leary.

The airline provides “sizers” at airports to ensure bags meet its standard 40x20x25cm carry-on limit. Passengers wanting more space can pay for larger bags when booking their tickets. O’Leary says “Oversized bags slow down boarding and inconvenience those who follow the rules.” By incentivising staff to catch rule-breakers, Ryanair hopes to maintain smooth operations.

EU Baggage Standards Prompt Policy Adjustments

Ryanair may soon revise its baggage limits to match new EU minimum standards. This would increase the carry-on dimensions slightly to 40x30x20cm. The European Parliament also wants all airlines to allow small hand luggage for free.
O’Leary argues this won’t work on full flights, where space is already tight.

He said, “That’s why we are so aggressive about eliminating the scourge of excess baggage.”

Ryanair Posts Record Quarterly Profits

Ryanair’s profit more than doubled in the latest quarter, rising to €820 million. This growth came from strong Easter travel demand and a 21% rise in average fares. However, passenger growth remains limited by aircraft delivery delays. The airline expects only a 3% increase in total travellers this year, reaching 206 million.

Still, cost control and efficient operations continue to drive Ryanair’s profitability forward.