Ryanair passengers are being warned to familiarise themselves with the airline's terms and conditions, as a seemingly minor rule can result in a hefty £55 charge. The airline has been enforcing a strict policy on hand luggage sizes, and those who fail to fit their bags into the size measurer before boarding are being penalised.
Passenger Frustration Over 'Petty' Rule
One 43-year-old traveller was charged at Budapest Airport in the European Union and criticised the rule as 'petty'. Any bag larger than 40cm by 30cm by 20cm is at risk of incurring the fee. Ryanair has been conducting a relentless crackdown on passengers attempting to bring oversized bags onto its aircraft without paying.
Comparison With Other Airlines
Ryanair's policy is more generous than the EU's minimum guaranteed free bag size, which is 40cm by 30cm by 15cm. After the EU rule change last summer, Ryanair increased its permitted volume by 20%, making it 33% greater than the EU minimum. However, other airlines like EasyJet allow a free bag up to 45cm by 36cm by 20cm, which is larger than Ryanair's allowance.
Bounty for Ground Staff
Ryanair made headlines last year when it began paying airport ground staff a bounty of €2.50 (£2.20) for every oversized bag they caught. CEO Michael O'Leary has been unapologetic about the policy, stating that he wants staff to catch people who are 'scamming the system'. He said, 'We’re going to raise it from €1.50 to €2.50, probably from the start of the winter schedule in November this year, and I make absolutely no apology for it whatsoever.'
O'Leary added that he regularly boards flights in Dublin and sees no issue with the small bag rule. He noted that if only the zip of a bag is outside the sizer, it gets on without issue. However, he expressed frustration with passengers who try to bring rucksacks through the gate, warning that they will be charged if the bag doesn't fit.
