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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/24/travellers-are-taking-advantage-of-bag-rules-to-avoid-fees-says-ryanair
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| Travellers are taking advantage of bag rules to avoid fees, says Ryanair | Travellers are taking advantage of bag rules to avoid fees, says Ryanair |
| (6 months later) | |
| Airline complains even toddlers are dragging suitcases onboard as passengers bring more and more luggage into cabin | |
| Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent | |
| Mon 24 Jul 2017 13.45 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.38 GMT | |
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| Cash-strapped holidaymakers are making their toddlers drag suitcases onboard planes to escape baggage fees, according to Ryanair bosses. | Cash-strapped holidaymakers are making their toddlers drag suitcases onboard planes to escape baggage fees, according to Ryanair bosses. |
| Fewer passengers than ever are checking bags into the aircraft hold. Instead, travellers are avoiding charges by bringing more and more luggage into the cabin. | Fewer passengers than ever are checking bags into the aircraft hold. Instead, travellers are avoiding charges by bringing more and more luggage into the cabin. |
| Ryanair’s chief financial officer, Neil Sorahan, said the airline could review its second bag allowance, introduced in late 2013, as passengers were starting to “take the piss”. | Ryanair’s chief financial officer, Neil Sorahan, said the airline could review its second bag allowance, introduced in late 2013, as passengers were starting to “take the piss”. |
| He said: “I’ve seen two-year-olds wheeling a bag up to the plane as people try to take advantage.” | He said: “I’ve seen two-year-olds wheeling a bag up to the plane as people try to take advantage.” |
| Fewer than one passenger in six now pays to check in luggage on Ryanair. Fares have been driven down as airlines compete to fill their planes; Ryanair is forecasting a further 7% fall in the next 12 months following a 13% drop in average fares from 2016 to 2017. | Fewer than one passenger in six now pays to check in luggage on Ryanair. Fares have been driven down as airlines compete to fill their planes; Ryanair is forecasting a further 7% fall in the next 12 months following a 13% drop in average fares from 2016 to 2017. |
| But it can cost more to check in a bag than purchase a seat, with prices typically up to £90 extra for a 20kg suitcase on a return short-haul summer flight. A two-year-old is entitled, like adults, to bring a 10kg suitcase and a second small bag for free. A one-year-old’s cabin allowance can also account for up to 5kg of the family’s total packing, according to a Ryanair spokesman. | But it can cost more to check in a bag than purchase a seat, with prices typically up to £90 extra for a 20kg suitcase on a return short-haul summer flight. A two-year-old is entitled, like adults, to bring a 10kg suitcase and a second small bag for free. A one-year-old’s cabin allowance can also account for up to 5kg of the family’s total packing, according to a Ryanair spokesman. |
| The airline admitted its takings were falling as passengers looked to squeeze ever more into the cabin, although it made a healthy €443m (£396m) profit in the last three months. | The airline admitted its takings were falling as passengers looked to squeeze ever more into the cabin, although it made a healthy €443m (£396m) profit in the last three months. |
| Sorahan said: “We’re very generous with our cabin baggage allowance; a 10kg case and a second small carry-on. If everyone does that there’s no issue. It’s the people coming with the kitchen sink that could change the policy.” | Sorahan said: “We’re very generous with our cabin baggage allowance; a 10kg case and a second small carry-on. If everyone does that there’s no issue. It’s the people coming with the kitchen sink that could change the policy.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| Ryanair passengers who do arrive with oversized bags risk being told to put them in the hold and charged an extra £50 at the airport. | Ryanair passengers who do arrive with oversized bags risk being told to put them in the hold and charged an extra £50 at the airport. |
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