Ryanair considering bigger bonuses for staff who spot oversized bags

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has confirmed that he is "thinking of increasing" the bonusses staff receive when they catch an oversized bag in the airport. 

The popular airline has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that workers receive a commission of €1.50 per each oversized bag they come across and charge. If a passengers bag is found to be too large, they must pay about €13 per kilo to be allowed on the flight.

The Sunday World has reported that the commission is capped at approximately €80 a month per staff member. 

Mr O'Leary spoke on Newstalk's Breakfast Business show with host Joe Lynam about this controversial incentive. 

"Doesn't that make a very wealthy airline look a bit miserable?" Mr Lynam asked, to which the CEO stated that this is a policy he stands by and endorses "wholeheartedly."

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Mr O'Leary continued: "It is something I have been advocating for many years. We do repeated passenger surveys. Nothing p*sses our passengers off more than the one or two head-bangers who show up at our boarding gate with out-sized rucksacks, claiming they didn't know or they try to scam to get it on."

The Ryanair CEO claims that 99.99% of passengers don't pay excess baggage fees and comply with the rules but Ryanair are "determined to eliminate and get rid of the irritating, tiny minority who refuse to obey by the rules."

He stated that staff will continue to encourage and actively go after the small minority of passengers who, despite repeated warnings, keep showing up with out-sized bags. 

On this, the businessman said, "They will be paying and I am happy to reward our staff bonusses for that. Partly because its self-defeating. It gets rid of them and we are determined to get rid of these bags. If bonusses are the way forward then I'll happily pay the bonusses. In fact, I'm thinking of increasing the bonusses." 

Also on Breakfast Business, Mr O'Leary confessed that he is "so frustrated" with both Dublin Airport and the Government in regards to the lack of clarity on wanting the number of flights to be permanently increased at the airport. He also urged Taoiseach Micheál Martin to "get his finger out of his backside" and deal with the issue.