Ryanair agrees passengers are “taking the piss” by exploiting hand luggage rules

Ryanair agrees passengers are “taking the piss” by exploiting hand luggage rules | Secret Flying

Ryanair’s chief financial officer, Neil Sorahan, agrees passengers are “taking the piss” by exploiting hand luggage rules. 

 

At Ryanair’s Q1 financial results press conference, the company’s chief financial officer said the airline was considering reviewing its second bag allowance because passengers are “coming with the kitchen sink.”

 

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Sorahan said: “I’ve seen two-year-olds wheeling a bag up to the plane as people try to take advantage.”

 

A two-year-old is entitled, like adults, to bring on-board a 10kg suitcase and a second small bag for free. Even a baby (aged 8 days to 23 months) travelling on an adult’s lap, is entitled to a 5kg cabin bag allowance.

 

When asked by a reporter if passengers were “taking the piss,” Sorahan said: “Some are… The vast majority of people play by the rules but some don’t. Unfortunately some bring massive backpacks and things that don’t fit under the seat. We’ve been a little bit lax or nice – we are victims of our own niceness.”

 

Fewer than one in six Ryanair passengers now pay for a checked bag. Prices for checked luggage can cost up to £90 for a 20kg suitcase on a roundtrip short-haul summer flight – often more expensive than the flight itself.

 

Ryanair’s profits over the last three months soared 55% to €443.7m, up from €286.5m a year earlier.