BUDGET airline Ryanair is planning to raise bonuses for staff that spot passengers attempting to take oversized bags on flights.
The airline plans to raise the current incentive for its gate staff from €1.50 (£1.29) to €2.50 (£2.16) per bag, from November.
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And the current €80(£68.98) cap, is set to be scrapped.
Speaking at a press conference, CEO Micheal O’Leary said he makes “absolutely no apology” for catching people who are “scamming the system”.
If Ryanair ‘s luggage restrictions weren’t strict enough, passengers face an additional £75 fee for putting an oversized bag into hold, if it is brought to the boarding gate.
Ryanair’s cheapest fares only include one small bag per passenger, which must fit under the seat in front of them.
Only one small bag which can fit under the seat in front is included in the lowest fares.
Mr O’Leary added: “I am still mystified by the number of people with rucksacks who still think they’re going to get through the gate and we won’t notice the rucksack.
“We will, and you will be paying for the rucksack. You’re not getting on if it doesn’t fit.”
The CEO revealed that around 200,000 passengers are charged luggage fees at airport gates each year and hence, the airline has “more work to do to get rid of them”.
“We want everybody to comply with the rules. If you comply with the rules, no issues,” he said.
“We are running a very efficient, very affordable, very low-cost airline, and we’re not letting anybody get in the way.”
In July, the budget airline updated the size restrictions of passengers’ ‘personal bags’.
The maximum size was altered from 40x25x20cm to 40x30x20cm – adding 5cm to the overall dimensions.
In total, this means that passengers get an overall capacity of 24 litres – when before it was 20 litres.
The update came about after new EU rules were laid down, banning airlines from charging for small carry on bags.
If holidaymakers want to travel with more luggage , they’ll need to pay a fee.
According to Ryanair’s website, the current fee for priority boarding and two cabin bags costs between £12 and £36 when added at the time of flight booking or between £20 and £60, when added after booking or at the airport.
A checked bag, weighing up to 10kg, costs between £9.49 and £44.99, when added at the time of booking or between £23.99 and £44.99, when added after booking or at the airport.
The next step up is a checked bag weighing up to 20kg, costing between £18.99 and £59.99 when added at time of booking, or between £39.99 and £59.99 when added after or at the airport.
And finally, a checked bag weighing up to 23kg, which can only be added at the time of booking, costs between £29.99 and £80.99.
Prices are for one-way, so if you were heading on a return flight – you would need to pay twice.
Excess baggage is then charged at £13 per kilogram.
A European airport is also set to welcome Ryanair flights next summer – despite axing routes from the UK.
Plus, the airline will open a new airport base that’s the gateway to the ‘Maldives of Europe’ – with more flights from the UK.
