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undefined | ‘You can’t take that on the plane for free!’ How Ryanair turned its staff into bounty hunters

Ryanair has intensified its crackdown on passengers who try to bring cabin bags larger than the airline’s stated limits of 40 cm × 30 cm × 20 cm. To enforce the rule, the carrier now pays ground staff a bounty of €2.50 (£2.20) for every oversized bag they intercept, a figure that was recently increased by a euro. The incentive has driven down the number of oversized‑bag incidents, but it also encourages staff to apply the most stringent interpretation of the size limits, leaving many travellers uncertain whether wheels, tapered shapes or slight over‑measurements count as violations.

The policy sits in a confusing space of competing standards. While EasyJet permits a slightly larger free bag (45 cm × 36 cm × 20 cm), Ryanair’s dimensions are actually more generous than the EU’s minimum free‑baggage size introduced last summer (40 cm × 30 cm × 15 cm). Nevertheless, when a passenger’s bag exceeds Ryanair’s limit, they face a levy of up to £75, or they can purchase a “Ryanair‑compliant” cabin bag for £40‑£50. Alternatively, travellers may pay to bring a larger bag on board, with fees ranging from £12 to £36 depending on the route—often costing more than the seat itself.

CEO Michael O’Leary shows no remorse for the tough stance, insisting he makes “absolutely no apology” for the bounty system and the strict baggage rules. Critics argue that the approach brings bad publicity, yet O’Leary maintains it is a necessary measure to curb a widespread problem. The episode highlights the broader issue of inconsistent cabin‑baggage regulations across airlines and suggests that further industry‑wide regulation may be needed to protect passengers from capricious and costly restrictions.