Airline Company Ryanair considers rewarding employees for identifying excessively large luggage
Ryanair, the popular European budget airline, is considering increasing the bonuses paid to its staff for identifying oversized cabin luggage, as part of an ongoing effort to improve profitability and maintain fairness for compliant travelers.
Currently, Ryanair staff receive a bonus of approximately €1.50 per oversized bag they flag at boarding gates, with a monthly cap of around €80 per employee. This "gate bag bonus" incentivizes staff to enforce the airline's strict baggage rules, where passengers caught with oversized bags must pay fees up to €75.
Looking ahead, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, has announced the airline is actively contemplating raising this incentive to discourage oversized cabin luggage and potential cheating by passengers. The airline plans to increase the free carry-on bag size following new EU regulations, which may also influence future enforcement and bonus structures.
The current cabin baggage policy at Ryanair allows one small carry-on item with a maximum size of 40 x 25 x 20 cm and a weight limit of 10 kg. The airline's strict enforcement policy is aimed at eliminating what Michael O'Leary calls 'the scourge of passengers with excess baggage'.
Ryanair's message to passengers is clear: 'Please comply with our generous bag rules or you will be charged at check-in or at the gate'. The airline is also incentivizing staff with a share of the excess baggage revenue, expecting a decrease due to stricter enforcement.
However, there is a potential geopolitical risk for Ryanair as a trade agreement between the EU and the United States could fail to materialize, which could result in commercial aircraft being subject to US tariffs once again.
Despite these challenges, Ryanair's efforts to control costs and boost revenue are paying off. Revenue rose by 20%, boosted by fare increases - particularly for last-minute bookings. In the second quarter of 2025, Ryanair reported a net profit of €820 million, up from €360 million the previous year.
The average fare climbed to €51, marking a 21% year-on-year rise. Michael O'Leary expects to improve profitability further through cost control, despite fares remaining similar to 2023. Baggage sizers are available in Ryanair terminals to help passengers comply with the airline's baggage rules.
Notably, a proposal in the European Parliament suggests allowing passengers to carry both a personal item and a small piece of hand luggage free of charge, but Ryanair has pushed back against this idea. The airline's competitor, EasyJet, pays its staff €1.40 per flagged oversized bag (approximately €1.20 after tax), a bonus worth roughly 10% of their hourly pay.
As Ryanair continues to navigate the complexities of the aviation industry, its focus on cost control and strict enforcement of baggage rules remains central to its strategy for success.
- Ryanair is contemplating raising the gate bag bonus for its staff, as part of their effort to discourage oversized cabin luggage and maintain fairness for compliant travelers.
- The airline's Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, has announced plans to increase the free carry-on bag size in accordance with new EU regulations, which may also influence future enforcement and bonus structures.
- Despite increases in fares, Ryanair aims to improve profitability further through cost control, such as strict enforcement of baggage rules.
- Ryanair competitor EasyJet pays its staff a smaller bonus for flagged oversized bags compared to Ryanair, highlighting the focus on baggage control within the budget airline industry.
