Ryanair staff could get bigger bonuses for spotting oversized bags

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said there could be a potential increase in the bonus given to employees who spot passengers trying to sneak oversized luggage onto planes. The budget airline currently rewards its eagle-eyed staff with around 1.50 euros (£1.30) for each piece of excess baggage they catch before it makes its way onto the aircraft.

Reports suggest that this incentive is limited to roughly 80 euros (£70) per crew member each month. Meanwhile, travellers can find themselves forking out up to 75 euros (£65) if they're caught with luggage exceeding the size they initially paid for during booking.

With every ticket sold, Ryanair permits a small carry-on bag, restricted to dimensions of 40x20x25cm and a weight limit of 10kg. Those wishing to bring larger or additional bags must cough up extra cash.

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On Monday, O'Leary announced that summer fares are expected to hover around the same prices as in 2023, but he anticipates an uptick in the airline's profits through "controlling costs". Despite some Members of the European Parliament advocating for passengers to be allowed a free personal item and small hand luggage on board, Mr O'Leary foresees this proposal falling flat due to cabin space constraints.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland about the business news, he explained: "We're flying largely full flights, about half the passengers can bring two bags and the other half can only bring one – because that's all that fits in the plane. We're already struggling with that amount of baggage. That's one of the reasons we are so aggressive about eliminating the scourge of passengers with excess baggage."

Mr O'Leary highlighted that more than 99.9% of passengers adhere to the baggage policy, with "sizers" available at the airport.

He said: "We are happy to incentivise our (staff) with a share of those excess baggage fees, which we think will decline over the coming year or two."

The CEO added: "It is about 1.50 euro per bag – and we're thinking of increasing it, so we eliminate it."

In addition, Mr O'Leary speculated that US President Donald Trump would likely back down from imposing higher tariffs on Europe come August 1.

When questioned about potential tariffs on Boeing aircraft deliveries, he said: "Trump will probably chicken out again, I suspect the August 1 will get moved to September or October.

"We have taken delivery of five aircraft in the first quarter but no tariffs applied to those aircraft There is a risk of tariffs being introduced by the Europeans or the Americans in some tit-for-tat in August, September or October – but Boeing will have to pay those tariffs."

Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would collaborate with Boeing to guarantee that commercial aircraft remain exempt from any tariffs, arguing that such levies would harm both Boeing's European export business and Airbus's American sales - not to mention Ireland's aircraft leasing sector.

He continued: "There's increasing optimism, though, in Washington that commercial aircraft will be exempt from any tariffs – if Trump ever gets around to actually imposing tariffs."