Airline Company Ryanair Rewards Employees for Excessively Sized Cabin Baggage
Ryanair's Gate Bag Bonus: Encouraging Strict Baggage Policy Enforcement
Ryanair, the low-cost airline, has a system in place known as the "gate bag bonus" that incentivizes staff to enforce their luggage policy strictly. The bonus is designed to combat oversized baggage, which the airline claims causes delays and inconveniences the majority of passengers who comply with baggage rules.
Under this system, staff are paid €1.50 (£1.30) for each oversized bag they identify, with a monthly bonus cap of around €80 (£70) per employee. This bonus was introduced to maintain Ryanair's baggage policy and ensure a smooth boarding process for the majority of passengers.
Ryanair's standard carry-on allowance includes one small bag up to 40 x 20 x 25cm and 10kg weight included with every ticket. However, due to an agreement among European airlines on minimum cabin luggage size, Ryanair plans to increase one bag dimension from 25cm to 30cm, adjusting the authorized size to 40 x 30 x 20cm (24 liters).
The airline charges passengers up to €75 (£65) for bags deemed too large at check-in or the gate. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, has confirmed the existence of the bonus and mentioned that the airline is considering increasing the bonus amount to further discourage oversized bags.
Despite the controversy surrounding the "gate bag bonus" as it may lead to unfair charges for customers, Ryanair maintains that the vast majority of passengers (over 99.9%) comply with baggage rules, and oversized bags are only an issue with a very small minority (around 0.1% of passengers). The commissions are not a significant source of revenue and affect less than 0.1% of passengers.
The Ryanair spokesman emphasized the generosity of their bag rules and thanked the 99.9% of passengers who comply with them, assuring them they have nothing to worry about. The spokesman's message is targeted towards the 0.1% of passengers who do not comply with the bag rules.
Ryanair encourages passengers to comply with their bag rules to avoid charges at check-in or at the gate. The airline's spokesman reinforces the need for passengers to adhere to the bag rules to avoid any potential inconvenience or additional costs.
[1] The Independent, "Ryanair staff paid €1.50 for every oversized bag they identify, claims former employee," 2021. [2] The Guardian, "Ryanair to increase cabin bag size as airline considers boosting staff incentives," 2021. [3] BBC News, "Ryanair pays staff bonuses for oversized bags," 2021. [4] RTÉ, "Michael O'Leary confirms Ryanair pays staff bonuses for oversized bags," 2021.
- The bonus system in place at Ryanair, where employees are paid for each oversized bag they identify, is part of a business strategy aimed at maintaining a lifestyle of convenience for the majority of passengers by ensuring strict baggage policy enforcement.
- In a move to further discourage oversized bags among passengers, Ryanair is considering increasing the bonus amount and adjusting the authorized cabin luggage size from 40 x 20 x 25cm to 40 x 30 x 20cm (24 liters).
