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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 2 of 3)
JRS Jan 24th 2009 11:40PM
Airlines are risking alienating customers with all these fees. What I really don't like is that intra-Europe check in weight limits are so low. Let's say, you want to spend some time travelling around Europe. Obviously, you need a lot of clothes. You fly across the ocean at the baggage weight limit , which is higher. Some point later you want to travel from London to Athens, for example, but the baggage limit is now lower. What are you supposed to do, throw away half your clothes? Not to mention that you are probably acquring presents and souvenirs during your travels.
My friend traveled from Moscow to Istanbul and had just two average sized suitcases that weren't that heavy. She was charged $300 in weight, which was more than her airplane ticket itself.
I understand the need to have weight restrictions, but why are the limits so low and why are the charges above the limits, so high per oound (kg)?
Once people reach their tolerance limit, some airline will come in and undercut the rest and get all their business.
Andy Jan 25th 2009 1:05AM
JRS...you don't need alot of clothes. My first trip to Europe was for 3 weeks on a tour 40 years ago, before I worked for an airline, and I could only take one suitcase, a camera bag and one hand bag. Granted it was the large bag in a set, but it was something I could handle myself without rollers. The bag dimensions and weights then were more restrictive than they are now too. I took the advice of a woman from Ireland who travelled back home often:
Pack smart. Take just a few pair of nylon underwear that can be washed out when you get to your hotel and it will be ready for your next stop. It takes up less room too. Bring a sensible cardigan type sweater that can be used daytime or evening. Black is never out of fashion and it's a predominate color in many European countries. An all-weather coat works in all but the coldest climates. Coordinate your clothes. Jeans are great but too heavy to take more than one pair packed and one on the plane. Try to take clothes that are wrinkle resistant only. They can be rolled and hung in the bath when you shower so the wrinkles come out easily. Also, many hotels have laundry service and it's cheaper than it is here. One dressy pair of shoes and some sneakers cover most situations. Sandals are for tropical climates not running around European cities.
Souveniers? I shipped everything big or fragile home and it cost less than I thought. Nothing shipped came broken like some of my packed souveniers did because I packed them wrong. Customs was a breeze to get through that way too.
Vacations are for relaxing. Leave the high-fashion look for when you're home. Who do you think you'll meet that cares how you dress any way? And do you really care about them if they do?
P.S.: the charges between Moscow and Istanbul are understandable. Americans and Europeans are considered rich compared to their people so they are just trying to get on the gravy train.
Sage Jan 24th 2009 11:43PM
A few years ago, I flew from Rome to London on Ryanair. There was no assigned seating, no complimentary refreshments and a steep fee for checked baggage, if you chose to bring it. But every seat was comfortable and upholstered in leather and the price of a ticket for just 50 bucks. I was very impressed. I would recommend this airline for taking weekend jaunts in Europe. And to those people who insist on sneaking oversized luggage on board, you deserve to pay a fine. I, for one, am very frustrated by the folks to hog all of the overhead cabin space with their junk.
Johnny Jan 24th 2009 11:57PM
I've flown for over quarter of a century. I cannot be bothered with any of the airlines anymore, its gotten so bad I'm sick to my stomach. If its not a new fee, its a fine, if its not a fine, its taking off your shoes at the X ray machine. Although times have changed its sad that flying has come down to this crap.
I used to love boarding an airline and shortly after take off, going up to the cabin to hang out with the crew. Free playing cards, small teddies, the airline mailing a their postcard for you, these days are long gone.
I hope they all dig their own grave and all end up bankrupt. They only brought it upon themselves.
Andy Jan 25th 2009 1:26AM
Johnny where have you been? Most American airlines have already been through bankruptcy or taken over or merged with other carriers like mine did. And why do you think those fees have been added? Remember when gas 25 cents a gallon? Airlines could afford to do the extras then. Now it's more than 5 times that and going back to the direction it was a few months ago at 10-20 times more than when you thought traveling was great. And as for taking your shoes off at the x-ray, remember why it was done . . . a terrorist hid explosives in his shoes bucko.
I was a GSC (ground security co-ordinator) for my airline before the TSAs were added and you would be surprised at what people want to try and sneak aboard in their luggage. How about a pint can of lighter fluid? The guy cleaned his bowling ball with it and thought nothing of putting it in his bag. What kind of damage would that have caused in the wrong hands?
Airlines don't make most of these regulations. The Transportation Safety Committee does and that's for your protection as well as the Airlines'. If your getting sick to your stomach traveling now just be glad that's all your getting when you fly.
etirpsha Jan 25th 2009 12:02AM
"Airlines are risking alienating customers with all these fees."
The only customers who might be alienated will be those who have believed the rules did not apply to them! So, what will they do? Drive from New York to London?
For too long, Americans have been pampered by the airlines. I can remember when American Airlines had a full bar in their DC-10's. Food and drink? There was no end to them. Weight? No one cared. Well, that is one of the reasons so many have disappeared from the skies.
Enri Jan 25th 2009 12:09AM
10kg limit on cabin luggage. That is not very generous. People should be limited to two in-cabin bags, one for overhead and one for under-the-seat. I agree with a dimensions limit, but be a little liberal on the weight. As for the check-in, it should be free up to two bags and certain weight. Fees over the limit are ok with me, but they shouldn't be so excessive.
Ryanair is a gimmick airline. They come across as really low fare, but then they get you with the rest of their fees and limits. Like someone said above, it's great for a 3 day trip inside Europe where you can survive with a few pieces of clothing. That's about it.
joec Jan 25th 2009 12:20AM
Do any bloggers know how to spell and write gramatically correct, including the proper use of apostrophes????? F'n morons.
Robyn Jan 25th 2009 4:59AM
When you criticize someone for his or her spelling, make sure YOUR's is correct--the word is "grammatically", NOT "gramatically".
Marc Jan 25th 2009 12:34AM
I do complain...I'm also a part time pilot. I'm in the air more than I'm on the ground some weeks. Basically, this is the reason Southwest does well. No weird extra charges, snacks on the planes, plenty of overhead bin space on those 737's and friendly and helpful staff. You fly US Scare or Delta....you get what you deserve lol. Do your homework people....there is competitiveness in the airlines nowadays.
Andy Jan 25th 2009 2:02AM
Marc...I'm retired and haven't flown since 2005 because there's so much else for me to do right now. Southwest is a good airline, but they just don't fly around the world like the big boys do. And as for doing well financially that's because they wisely hedged their fuel prices, but only until 2010. Other airlines have learned alot from them because of that smart move too, so lets see how things do after next year. Oh, by the way...has Southwest changed their policy on intra-airline baggage transfers or they still just taking the baggage only as far as their final point and then making the customer re-check their bag if they are flying onward with another airline? If that hasn't changed then Southwest is going to have to expand their market extensively if they really want to be competing with airlines that fly around the world or have agreements with international carriers.
Your snacks were better than ours, by the way, but I'm glad our company ditched the peanuts. They were heck cleaning out from the supports that secure the seats. I would rather that they kept the meal service though because some of the garbage people started taking onboard was much worse than ours was.
Flying can still be fun, but like any challenges in life you have to have a positive attitude if you want positive things happen to you. The biggest majority of my customers were great and the best thing about my job was taking good care of them because they were my bread and butter.
Airlines want your business, but everyone has different expectations and no airline can meet all of them every time. Not even Southwest.
JackFrost Jan 25th 2009 12:51AM
Here's how I see it. The airlines have a product for sale. They give you the price of the ticket. They give you the price of checking luggage and other fees. They give you the cost of changing the travel dates. They even give you the dimensions of the seats if you do some clicking around on their websites. YOU choose to accept the flights. YOU choose to accept the fees. YOU choose to buy the seat at the size stated. YOU, have a choice not to purchase it. If you don't like the product being offered, don't buy it. If you DO choose to buy the product as it's stated, then why are you complaining about what you bought? Just my view of it all.
Ruth Jan 25th 2009 1:43AM
find out how much it costs to fly someone from point A to point B, add your profit margin, and charge that much for a ticket. There is no way an airline can afford to keep flying someone coast to coast for $99.00 and stay in business. And thats just what they are..businesses. Not charitable organizations. Flying is not a right. You get what you pay for. Bet those people on the Hudson River realized their FA's weren't just glorified waitresses.
Andy Jan 25th 2009 2:42AM
Ruth you are a jewel! Would that more customers understood things as you do.
The biggest fluctuating cost of an airline is the fuel and
thusly airline costs increase mostly because of the fuel. Just getting the plane off the ground takes an incredible amount; and for every passenger seat filled and every bag in the hold, the need for more fuel increases. Each passenger and each bag gets an average weight and when the cargo hold is bulked out that means more fuel. I worked in a city where conventions were big and so were sporting events. Skiers, bowlers, vollleyball teams, pole vaulters, cowboys and even book writers conventions (with lots of free give-aways) packed gear that took a lot of stragegy to stow efficiently and safely. And more fuel.
I don't know why people can't understand that carry on baggage adds weight too. And cases of soda, water, ice, as well as those meals so many people complained about all added to the weight of the aircraft.
The weight has to be computed before it can even leave the gate, so making those bag limitations are vital to the safe operation of the plane. Believe it or not, but last minute passengers, under some weather conditions, can mean the difference between an on-time departure or a delay because of the weight already on the plane.
It isn't the lack of customers that will make the airlines change the fee policies. It's the fuel costs. If fuel costs were to stay reasonable the airlines would re-think fee charges because they know those charges turn customers away.
Thanks for your positive input as well as the other supportive bloggers today. I still have many friends working for the airline and they need all the support they can get from folks like you. And say a prayer (to whoever you think will help) that fuel prices keep at a fair and reasonable price for people who fly as well as drive.
AC Jan 25th 2009 3:06AM
I've been flying for over twenty five years now and boy, are my arms tired! LOL
bill megelsh Jan 25th 2009 3:09AM
I don't think many poor people can afford to fly, let alone have a car to get to the airport. The typical person that can afford to fly on vacation, or business, is in the 40k & up class. So suck it up. And pay to play.
pystl Jan 25th 2009 3:16AM
FINALLY! I TRAVEL ALOT AND AM SICK AND TIRED OF ROOKIE TRAVELERS BRINGING ON EVERYTHING THEY OWN!
cchux Jan 25th 2009 3:28AM
Streamline...less is more, especially when you have a packed plane...get in, sit down and shut the hell up...you will find that it will be much better that way...!!!
D Jan 25th 2009 3:34AM
Those FATTIES need to pay more or put their disgusting bodies in the cargo hold. It is horrible to sit next to a heavy breathing sweaty fatso that spills over into the next seat. I hate to hear "I have tried everything" no you have'nt. THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL TO LOOSE FAT!!Proper diet & excercise THAT IS IT! "I dont have time 2 excercise" That's a crock, get up 45 minutes earlier and take a brisk walk 4 times a week & guess what...TAH-DAH you will loose weight. Stay away from the gallons of ice cream too.
Gene Jan 25th 2009 11:42AM
I understand that the airlines need to stay in business, but all these fees add up to extortion in my eyes. Most people, in today's busy times, look at the cost of the ticket and buy on price alone. Often, fees and surcharges are changed on a monthly or weekly basis. Once you arrive at the airport, you are hit with all these incedental fees, bumping up the cost at the last minute, when there is no other choice but to pay the fees or cancel your trip, usually with non-refundable tickets.
I think there would be less public outcry if airlines would just charge for all costs and fees upfront. Yes, some people would complain about the higher ticket costs, but there would be less bad PR for the airlines in the long run if the flying customers were not nickled and dimed (or dollared) to death at check in.