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Ryanair to ticket passengers who try to cheat the baggage system
Ryanair, the cheeky Irish low cost airline, has decided to hand out 30 Euro fines to any passengers trying to bring too much stuff with them in their cabin baggage. When airlines started charging people for each checked bag, it was only a matter of time till passengers figured it would be much cheaper to just drag as much as possible into the cabin. And it was only a matter of time until the airlines noticed that not enough people were paying for their overpriced baggage service. Their solution? Ticket the passengers!
Checking a bag will cost between 10 and 20 Euros, but anyone caught trying to sneak too much into the cabin can pay the 30 Euro fine, or stay home, because not paying the fine = no travel for you.
The system appears to be pretty well planned, as it does not seem like you are able to check the excess cabin baggage once on board - which should force people to just pay the checked bag fee instead of trying to take a chance the flight attendant won't notice your massive bags.
I'm really not sure what to make of this, on the one hand I've seen plenty of people drag far more on board than they should, and on the other hand I'm annoyed that airlines have started charging for checking bags, which has always been a free service included with your ticket.
The list of fees Ryanair charges their passengers is massive, but to actually start handing out a "fine" when you try to cheat things is just plain miserable.
I bet that some American airlines are probably looking at this new development, and I'm sure some of their bean counters have already been crunching the numbers to see just how much cash they could make off us poor passengers.
(Via: Independent.ie)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Janelle Jan 22nd 2009 4:28PM
Darn. I was just thinking that the gateside checkin might be the best way to skirt the baggage fees. Of course they caught on.
DJ Jan 23rd 2009 1:03AM
Gotta love those Ryanair girls. Check out their calendar. whooo hooooooooooooo
masanddjs Jan 23rd 2009 6:44AM
We need to be recruiting FA's in whatever country she's from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike Jan 27th 2009 5:08AM
They should just charge people by the pound. Person and luggage.
Cindy Jan 24th 2009 9:58PM
I think you're right. They should set a total pound limit and that would be fine with me. I'm not a skinny person and have found many airline seats to be smaller than I would like. But I see people twice my size who essentially get double the value for the price.
I usually have overweight bags as I go overseas for long periods of time. I ALWAYS have to pay for them. If you did a total pound ticket then you could either be fatter or have fatter luggage. That seems fair to me.
V Jan 25th 2009 2:52AM
Well said Mike..
Samantha Jan 29th 2009 7:01AM
Way to foster discrimination. Not to mention encourage eating disorders (Gee, if I only weigh 90 lbs instead of 115, I'll get a cheaper flight!).
Worst. Idea. Evar. Not to mention absolutely vicious. I feel sorry for you. It must be tough being so empty.
pete Jan 24th 2009 8:23PM
The airlines keep this crap up and they might find the only people who can afford to fly are terrorists. If they carry any bags at all, it will be minimum and well under weight limits.
Bonnie Jan 25th 2009 3:17AM
I agree w/ you Pete.
Shannon Jan 24th 2009 9:11PM
If you don't like it, take Greyhound. Airlines have to do whatever they can to stay afloat, and if that means charging for excess things, then so be it. Frankly, I wish they'd charge more for tickets, like they did back when, and have everything for free. Then people can stop their yacking, as those who are constantly yacking won't be flying anymore.
etirpsha Jan 25th 2009 12:48PM
Take Greyhound? Then you would really hear the complaining. Many airlines allow heavier baggage than Greyhound (up to 70 pounds). And, Greyhound limits its liability to $250 for lost baggage. American Airlines, for example, has a liability limit of $3,000 within the U.S., and are governed by the Warsaw Convention for international flights.
Jim Jan 24th 2009 9:36PM
Excellent ! There are too many slobs flying nowadays, dragging too much CRAP with them. People insist on making the plana an extension of their own stuff-filled lives, delaying things for the rest of us who travel streamlined. Enough!
ZAK Jan 24th 2009 9:40PM
If the airlines continue treating their passengers like this article reveals: maybe they will switch to trains. That would be a very good thing.
Cearralyn Jan 24th 2009 10:25PM
It is unfair of the airlines to charge for luggage when a passenger already has paid an exhorbitant price for a ticket..and then the taxes on top of the ticket make the cost even higher. It's bad enough having to sit in a tiny, uncomfortable seat and in many cases having to pay for a cup of coffee or a glass of water. I'm disgusted with the airline industry.
Michy Jan 25th 2009 7:13AM
Honey, if your getting tired of arilines treatment and charges, then try driving your car to where you are going sometime and see how much that costs you, not only for gas, wear and ter on the car, motel rooms and food. Oh, and don't forget, you do the loading and unloading of all your luggage too. Either that, or find a cheaper flight, schedule your work to fly at a cheaper time, or leave half the excess bagage at home.
Cearralyn Jan 25th 2009 9:08PM
Michy, I DID drive my car last summer instead of flying and it cost LESS than the round-trip ticket I paid for when I went back again in November. In fact, I stayed overnight during my drive...once each way, and it was STILL less than the "economy" ticket. I don't take any more baggage than what will fit in the overhead bin and under the seat in front of me. The airlines are not going to make a dime off of me for extra luggage. It is amazing what will fit in a small piece of luggage with wheels and a large purse with a lot of pockets. When I drive, I take a cooler and very rarely stop to eat in a restaurant. I RESTATE what I said earlier. The extra charges applied by the airlines are UNFAIR!! Another thing, if you keep your car in good condition and don't drive like a maniac, there is not that much wear and tear on it.
Dana Jan 24th 2009 10:56PM
You know it's funny. Without all of us miserable passengers who some say try to take advantage of everything we possibly can when we fly, because we are just soo rude, the FAs, pilots, etc...wouldn't even have a job! So you should stop being stuck up, and complaining all the time. You don't like your line of work, get a new line of work. I stopped flying because of rude airline staff, not towards me, oer se, but towards other passengers just trying to get to point A to point B. I don't care if we pay 1000 dollars or 100 dollars for a ticket, we should get still be treated honestly, and courteously. Then mayble the passengers would do the same in return. Stop flying people, put the miserable airline industry out of work. Take the bus, or a train, or your own vehicle.
Rita Jan 24th 2009 11:01PM
Come on, Mr. Carmichael...you're a writer and you should know better! "fee's" ??? An apostrophe is used only to show possession, or for a contraction.
The plural of "fee" is "fees"
etirpsha Jan 24th 2009 11:24PM
"...us poor passengers" my aunt fanny! At last an airline is doing something about the boors who take everything onboard and try to put it in an overhead bin. Hellsfire, no one, even the airlines, ever makes sure take-ons fit in the template bin by the boarding podium. I have seen people take up to three bloody suitcases on board with them, as well as small surf boards, baby strollers, collapsible bicycles and all kinds of other crap. Of course, they are always in a rush to get on board, and later boarders can never find a place for their briefcase! Kick the boors off and let them check their baggage on the NEXT flight!
Andy Jan 24th 2009 11:25PM
After 36+ years with an airline your comments are interesting.
Those of you who don't like it and think you pay too much are usually the worst offenders. You whine and blame everything bad on someone else because that's your nature...whiney and irresponsible. And no...you're not likely to travel on trains because you want fast just as much as you want cheap. And do you really think you can carry whatever you want on a train or bus too?
To those of you who approve, I thank you on behalf of all airline employes trying to do their job under so much negative press, as well as all the passengers who don't try to hog the overhead and know better than to overpack to begin with.
And oh, by the way. A number of overseas carriers have been limiting carry on luggage for decades and are far more stringent than American carriers are.
You don't like paying extra fees? Drive your car. Gas prices are going back up again now and that will be another griping point for you, but you at least will be able to take all the bags you can fit in your trunk, or cartop carrier, or the back seat with the kids, the dog, the cat, the coolers, the bags of snacks . . .