Ryanair, EUR 2.50 bonus for the employee who discovers oversized luggage

A bonus of EUR 2.50 for each piece of luggage that does not comply with the boarding rules. Ryanair aims at 'compliance with the rules' also indicated in the boarding passes and, to make this happen, has decided to incentivise airport staff with an 'extra' for each irregular piece of luggage. It was Michael O'Leary who announced this, as also pointed out by The Guardian (later confirmed by the press office), who also said that the bonus will be increased from 1.50 to 2.50 'probably from the start of the winter programme in November this year'.

O'Leary, as The guardian later reported, "said the airline will also remove the cap on bonuses, currently €80 a month, to encourage staff to stop as many non-compliant bags as possible". 'We should encourage people,' he said, 'I want our ground handling staff to catch those who cheat the system'.

With regard to luggage, all passengers can take one small piece of hand luggage, which can be stowed under the seat, with maximum dimensions of 40x30x20 cm, free of charge. A second piece of hand luggage, usually a small trolley, with a maximum size of 55x40x20 centimetres, can be brought on board for a fee, usually less than the price paid for transport in the hold. The CEO then emphasised that 'there is no problem with small luggage'.

Passengers with oversized luggage will have to pay the penalty and the luggage will be checked in.

He then remarked that 99.9% of Ryanair passengers comply with the rules. "The number of people who pay the gate baggage fee is less than 0.1% of our passengers," he added, "and that is still 200,000 passengers a year.