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Taking to the skies in 2025 is arguably cheaper than it was decades ago, and although we might never get back to the rock-bottom prices of the noughties, it's said to be far cheaper than back when flying was a novelty only reserved for the rich.
Unfortunately, with seats costing less, airlines are coming up with other ways to claw back some money. More passengers are crammed into planes, leg room is getting smaller, and that pack of peanuts might cost nearly as much as your ticket.
There are plenty of travel hacks to try and get a cheaper flight, but while you might think you've got a bargain, the airlines are here to pick your pockets.
Even as some budget airlines go bust, others continue to soar. This is partly thanks to its money-making schemes like the proposal of 'standing' seats to pack flights with even more passengers.
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Now, budget airline Ryanair has confirmed that it's incentivising staff to catch passengers who are trying to sneak oversized bags onto flights. Most of us have been there, knowing our bag won't fit in that little sizer, trying not to make eye contact with the person checking your boarding pass and hoping you can sneak it onboard.
Still, as baggage sizes seem to get smaller by the day, and that 'cabin-suitable' case you just bought is no longer the correct size, can you really blame disgruntled passengers?
Currently, anyone whose bag doesn't meet Ryanair's minuscule measurements of 55cm in height, 40cm in width, and 20cm in depth will either have it refused or have to pay €75 ($88) to place it in the hold.
If that wasn't already frustrating enough for stressed passengers, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has said (via RTE) that if your luggage doesn't fit in the sizer, "it's not getting on."
Referring to how he plans to 'eliminate the scourge', O'Leary explained: "You're getting charged and the only way to eliminate this is to incentivise and reward my staff."
Currently, Ryanair pays staff €1.50 ($1.75) for every oversized bag they identify and passenger who's charged. Refusing to apologize, O'Leary added: "I will continue to incentivise and reward our staff - I make no apology for people who are breaking our baggage rules ... they will continue to pay those baggage fees until they comply with our rules."
Ryanair’s quarterly profits have more than doubled - and the airline says it’s now considering new incentives for staff.
— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) July 21, 2025
CEO Michael O’Leary says they may increase a commission for airport workers who detect oversized baggage.#VMNews pic.twitter.com/pi5ugCOJ0W
There have been complaints that the rules are being applied at will, although O'Leary wants to eliminate oversized bags on all journeys: "You might have gotten away with it outbound ... I hope in future you'll get stung on the way out and on the way back."
Even though we'd argue many know their bag doesn't fit the dimensions, O'Leary calls out the small minority as he concluded: "The only people who get penalised are the people breaking rules. 99.9% of our passengers don't break the rules, they don't get penalised.
“The 0.1% of the guys who delay the boarding process, the guys who are there delaying the departure of the aircraft because their bag doesn't fit in the overhead (cabin), they are going to pay and we're going to eliminate them."
For those who are unhappy with Ryanair's policy, the company CEO has a pretty direct response: "I am going to eliminate the scourge of this 0.1% of passengers who simply will not comply with our baggage rules. Please fly with somebody else we don't want your business."
