According to the head of the concern Michael O'Leary, Ryanair plans to tighten hand luggage controls. As part of the campaign, ground staff will in the future receive higher bonuses if they detect passengers with heavier or oversized luggage. In November, financial incentives will increase from 1.50 to 2.50 euros for each excess baggage, writes ARD. And the "offenders" will have to pay high additional fees.
Both stress and fines increase
"This will only increase the stress before take-off," Joachim Vazquez Bürger, head of the German flight attendants' union UFO, told ARD. According to him, this will increase the number of passengers who, with their inappropriate behavior, could endanger the safety of the flight. Ryanair is now taking strict measures against this type of offender - it is imposing a fine of 500 euros and has also called for a ban on alcohol at airports.
The airline justifies the stricter control with the need to speed up processes - because all hand luggage must be securely stowed in the cabin before take-off. Increased volume or oversized luggage can cause costly delays. "We are determined to put an end to the problem of oversized luggage, which delays boarding and is unfair to over 99 percent of our compliant passengers", a Ryanair spokesperson said, quoted by ARD.
The bag must fit under the seat
Like other low-cost airlines, Ryanair only allows free transportation of a small hand bag that fits under the seat. The remaining larger hand luggage can be loaded into the cabin for a fee - a fact that has drawn criticism from consumer advocates and the European Parliament.
The Federal Union of Consumer Protection Centers has already filed complaints against many airlines in August - because of "unacceptable" baggage fees. "Low-cost carriers lure customers with prices that do not cover all the allowed hand luggage. This is misleading consumers and violates current legislation," said Ramona Pop, president of the consumer union.
Airlines are required to accept the allowable hand luggage without additional fees. "The current parameters of hand luggage imposed by some airlines are contrary to EU law," Pop pointed out.