Ryanair raises gate-keep bonus as airlines tighten carry-on rules; travellers turn to packing tricks
From November Ryanair will pay staff more than €2 for each passenger caught with oversized hand luggage as carriers maintain strict size and weight limits and passengers adopt workarounds such as duty‑free bags and vacuum packing
Ryanair has increased the incentive for staff to identify passengers carrying oversized hand luggage, a move that comes as carriers across Europe tighten rules and fines for breaches. From November, Ryanair staff will receive an uplifted bonus of €2.50 (about £2.15) for each passenger they catch trying to bring an oversized bag on board; the reward will no longer be capped at the previous monthly maximum of €80. Passengers caught with excess hand luggage on Ryanair flights can face a £75 fine.
The change is part of a wider industry trend toward stricter enforcement of cabin baggage limits. Airlines set their own size and weight allowances and differ considerably on what counts as a free carry‑on, which has left many passengers uncertain about what they can bring on board without extra charges.
Travel experts and regular flyers say the enforcement shift has prompted a variety of tactics to avoid fees, some of them bordering on the pragmatic and others raising safety or enforcement concerns. Travel consultant Dominic Vanderstay, director of Dr Travel More, recommended a multi‑pocket travel jacket that can carry clothes and other items; he said he has used such a jacket dozens of times and estimated it has saved him “at least £2,000” in baggage charges. Vanderstay also suggested a U‑shaped “stuffable” travel pillow as another way to carry clothing on board without it being treated as standard luggage.
Katy Maclure, of money saving travel site Jack’s Flight Club, described the duty‑free bag method as a popular workaround. Duty‑free purchases are often treated separately from carry‑on because they are bought after check‑in, and shoppers sometimes place additional items such as books or clothing at the bottom of sealed duty‑free bags to take extra items on board. "This is my favourite trick," Maclure said, adding that being polite to airline staff can reduce the risk of being challenged.
Some of the techniques carry practical caveats and potential safety implications. Industry observers point to a widely reported incident in which James McElvar, a member of the band Rewind, reportedly collapsed from heat exhaustion after putting on 12 layers of clothing in an attempt to avoid paying for extra baggage on an EasyJet flight. Airlines reserve the right to intervene if they believe layered clothing creates a safety concern.
Packing strategies that avoid deceitful presentation but increase carrying capacity have also gained attention. Vacuum and roll compression methods can reduce the volume of clothing, while so‑called army rolling compresses garments into smaller shapes. Electric vacuum pumps and compression bags, sold commercially, can remove air from packed clothing; users should remember to carry or plan for devices and spare bags on return trips. A soft, flexible bag may be better than a rigid case for fitting into gate‑side sizing devices, though some passengers prefer hard cases expressly designed to airline free‑carry dimensions.
Passengers should still be mindful of widely varying rules. Ryanair’s free allowance for many customers is a single bag measuring up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm with a weight limit of 10kg, a change the carrier said aligns it with European Commission guidance. EasyJet allows a larger free bag of up to 45cm x 36cm x 25cm with a 15kg weight limit, provided it fits under the seat. Jet2 permits two bags in some fare types — a 10kg case up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and an under‑seat bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm. Wizz Air’s allowance is 40cm x 30cm x 20cm with a 10kg weight limit. Those differences mean a single packing approach will not suit every carrier.
Some travellers adopt behavioural tactics at the gate, such as boarding at the final call in the hope staff are less likely to measure or weigh luggage amid rush. Experts caution that such approaches are risky and dependent on staff discretion. A practical and low‑risk step is to measure bags and weigh them on household scales before travelling, and to consider flexible soft bags that can be compressed when staff check dimensions.
Airlines say stricter enforcement helps speed boarding and ensures consistent treatment of passengers who pay for larger cabin allowances. Ryanair’s change to an uncapped staff bonus and a higher per‑incident payment reflects that emphasis. Consumer and travel advisers urge passengers to check specific carrier rules before departure and to weigh the costs of avoiding fees against safety and the potential for higher fines at the gate.
As airlines continue to refine carry‑on policies, passengers can reduce the risk of extra charges by confirming allowances for their specific carrier, packing strategically within those limits, and allowing extra time at the airport to deal with any disputes over luggage size or weight.