by admin | Aug 19, 2025 | air travel, air travel safety, flying, luggage, Travel
Travelers heading out this summer would do well to take notice of an obscure Ryanair baggage policy that might cause issues for them.
Airline staff measuring suitcase sizes using baggage gauges just prior to departure — this scene is one that many passengers fear.
Ryanair lets travelers carry an “individual item” at no cost, provided it meets specific dimensions.
Earlier, the measurements were 40x25x20cm but
Recently, their dimensions have been raised to 40x30x20 cm, in accordance with an update in EU regulations.
.
Nevertheless, travelers may face a charge of up to £70 if their luggage exceeds size limits.
However, they might be surprised by a regulation that few people are aware of regarding the low-cost carrier.
Ryanair enforces a no-cash policy at check-in counters, potentially leading to problems for certain passengers.
This implies that even if a traveler is willing to cover the cost, without having a card, they might still be unable to bring their luggage aboard.
A representative from Ryanair stated to The Daily Mail: “Our baggage policy is straightforward; if it fits inside our bag checker (which has more space than the specified limits), it can be carried onboard at no extra cost.”
If the item does not fit within our baggage size limits, you will incur a gate bag charge. Since our boarding gates operate without cash, gate bag charges can’t be settled with physical currency.
These charges are incurred by fewer than 0.1 percent of travelers who fail to adhere to our established baggage policies.
Of the 99.9 percent of our travelers who follow our regulations, we express gratitude and encourage them to continue flying without concern.
It arrives as it was reported
How Ryanair rewards employees for catching travelers attempting to bring large carry-on items aboard planes
— and they may earn as much as €80 per month simply by implementing the stringent regulations.
A disclosed pay stub reveals how a previous worker received a “gate bag bonus” for identifying luggage that exceeded the airline’s well-known strict dimensions.
A former employee stated that they received approximately €1.50 (£1.30) for each large bag they documented, as reported by The Sunday Times, though they mentioned that the monthly incentive had a limit.
Ryanair, which generated an impressive €13 billion in sales during the previous year, announced on Saturday that employees receive financial incentives for identifying luggage that violates regulations — resulting in travelers being billed as much as €75 per large bag discovered at the boarding area.
However, even though they confirmed the plan, the airline declined to specify the exact amount employees receive through this “gate bag incentive.”
In the meantime, Chelsea Dickenson, also recognized as @holidayexpert, has
Only shared with MailOnline Travel, she reveals her best advice for fitting a week’s vacation wardrobe into a 40x20x25cm suitcase.
.
An alternative strategy is to keep part of your baggage with you.
Previously, Chelsea mentions that she removed the padding from her travel pillow and placed some of her clothing inside it, and she has also worn a fishing vest, filling its pockets.
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by admin | Apr 3, 2025 | airline industry, flights, flying, luggage, southwest airlines
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EXPLORE FURTHER: Southwest Airlines Eliminates Thousands of Positions in Initial Round of Job Cuts
Southwest Airlines has cautioned that their updated checked baggage policy will affect passengers who depend on carrying on their luggage.
The budget airline will
start charging for checked luggage in May
following over five decades of the cherished ‘two bags fly free’ policy.
The
shift annoyed long-term customers annoyed
And triggered inquiries regarding how the carrier will manage the higher demand for hand luggage.
Southwest anticipates a 30 percent reduction in checked luggage once the fee goes into effect on May 28.
It is anticipated that many travelers will attempt to avoid the charges by packing larger items into their carry-on luggage.
Currently, Justin Jones, who serves as the executive vice president of operations, acknowledges that the checking of carry-on luggage at the gate will increase because of restricted overhead storage capacity.
“We expect our gate-check bag fees to likely increase about fivefold compared to current rates,” Jones said during an interview for the Airlines Confidential podcast.
This challenge is particularly important for Southwest, as their planes feature smaller overhead bins compared to those of their rivals—a design decision stemming from their long-standing policy allowing free bags. Consequently, the carrier will now more rigorously adhere to size restrictions for carry-on luggage.
“It was an unexpected twist when they changed the baggage fees,” Jones commented.
‘Jones stated that we always have more luggage than anybody else around.’
Certainly, customers have notably abused Southwest’s lenient policy by shipping bathroom fixtures like kitchen sinks and toilets nationwide.
We need to tackle multiple tasks,” however, “our priority remains ensuring an exceptional customer experience.
‘We will be very cautious about strictly enforcing bag size regulations as some other carriers do.’
Nevertheless, this policy adjustment will lead to an increase in both baggage check-ins at the gates and associated charges.
Verifying travelers’ luggage upon boarding can be a lengthy process and might lead to flight delays as both the airline and its passengers adjust to this new procedure.
Jones stated that Southwest’s operational approach hinges on ensuring all processes run smoothly, emphasizing their strategy focuses on keeping planes airborne instead of idling on the tarmac.
“I won’t deny that we’re feeling some nerves leading up to June 1,” he stated regarding the initial flights with associated fees.
Last year, Southwest had the lowest cancellation rate globally, with only 0.62 percent of its flights canceled, as stated in the Syrian aviation report.
Jones stated that over time, the solution will involve incorporating new aircraft into Southwest’s fleet, which will feature increased storage space for carry-on bags.
These charges are a part of Southwest’s initiatives to enhance their profitability.
In February the airline
revealed intentions to reduce its corporate staff by 15 percent
In an effort to reduce expenses.
The layoffs – unprecedented in the airline’s 53-year history – will cut approximately 1,750 positions.
The reductions represent a strategic pivot after last year’s conflict with the activist hedge fund Elliott Management. In order to appease Elliott, executives committed to trimming expenses and exploring novel revenue streams, like
charging for seating
.
In contrast to its competitors, Southwest chose not to implement widespread layoffs, even when facing economic challenges.
9/11
, and the pandemic.
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