EasyJet Bags Bonus for UK Staff

The Price of a Pound: Airport Workers in Britain Rewarded for Spotting Oversized easyJet Bags

A recently disclosed email shows that ground handling personnel at multiple British airports get monetary rewards when they single out an easyJet traveller with oversized carry-on luggage. This incentive scheme, which adds to the pressure on travellers, comes as European lawmakers push to scrap controversial cabin bag fees altogether.

The Bonus for Gate Agents

Employees at airports get cash for each item of hand luggage surpassing easyJet's dimension limits. An email confirmation shows that personnel at Swissport, a firm that handles passenger gate operations, can be paid "£1.20 (£1 after tax)" for any bag checked at the gate. This policy is in effect throughout seven different airports located in the UK and the Channel Islands, which includes significant locations like Newcastle, Glasgow, and Birmingham. The communication described these payments as a method for compensating "agents doing the right thing".

This incentive, called the "easyJet gate bag revenue" program, was outlined in a message distributed to personnel during November of 2023 and is still active. For any employees anxious about their performance, the communication provided comfort. It explained that internal monitoring systems would pinpoint areas for extra help and instruction, but this data would never be applied in a detrimental way. News of the incentive programme was first brought to light by the Jersey Evening Post.

Image Credit - AOL

A Wider Industry Practice

This method of rewarding staff for enforcing luggage rules is not limited to Swissport. Personnel working for a different large aviation logistics company, DHL Supply Chain, also get additional pay for flagging easyJet luggage that does not meet the requirements. These workers are stationed at the Bristol, Manchester, and Gatwick airports. Reports indicate these workers are given a "nominal amount" per bag they identify. This points to a widespread tactic by handling companies to increase income from travellers who do not adhere to luggage regulations.

The collaboration between easyJet and DHL is considerable. DHL has been in charge of ground services at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport from March 2024, alongside its existing work at the Manchester, Bristol, and Gatwick airports. Their joint effort, initiated in 2017, covers tasks like check-in, bag-drop services, luggage management, and loading aircraft. Such arrangements highlight how deeply external contractors are embedded in an airline's operational and financial activities.

The Passenger's Predicament

For travellers, these policies can lead to significant expense and anxiety. While easyJet allows one small under-seat item at no cost, anyone wanting to carry on a larger piece of luggage must purchase an extra service, with prices beginning at £5.99. If a person shows up at the departure point carrying a large bag that wasn't paid for in advance, they will be charged a hefty £48 fee to put the item into the aircraft's cargo area.

A former Swissport manager, speaking anonymously, likened the task of confronting passengers over excess baggage to dealing with fare dodgers. The individual noted the risk of abuse from frustrated travellers, particularly large groups who could face charges exceeding the cost of their original tickets. This puts gate staff in a difficult position, caught between enforcing airline policy and facing angry customers.

Airlines and Handlers Respond

Reacting to the news, Swissport said that it acts on behalf of its airline customers, implementing their rules, with a primary goal of providing secure and streamlined services. EasyJet asserted that its various ground handling associates determine their compensation structures independently, without the airline's direct supervision. The company stressed its dedication to making sure its partners enforce all regulations properly and uniformly to be fair to every customer.

EasyJet also noted that its rules on luggage are clearly explained to travellers when they book and prior to their journey. This means just a "very small proportion" of flyers who don't follow the rules end up with a fee at the airport. In contrast, competitor Ryanair said it provides no monetary reward to personnel from Swissport, but declined to clarify its arrangements with other handling firms.

Image Credit - The Sun

The Ancillary Revenue Machine

These baggage-related charges are part of a much larger and increasingly crucial income stream for airlines known as ancillary revenue. This category includes everything from seat selection and priority boarding to in-flight food and WiFi. Globally, airline ancillary revenue was projected to reach nearly $148.4 billion in 2024, constituting a significant portion of total airline income. For 2025, ancillary revenues are expected to climb to $144 billion.

The growth in this area is a strategic response to rising operational costs and intense competition, which have put pressure on traditional ticket prices. Low-cost carriers pioneered the "unbundled" fare model, and legacy airlines have increasingly followed suit. This business model is now so ingrained that the focus is shifting towards sophisticated retail strategies, using technology like AI to offer personalised deals to passengers.

A Push for Change from Europe

Charging for cabin bags has attracted negative feedback from consumer advocates and political figures, who claim it causes misunderstanding and conceals costs from flyers. This has resulted in a major drive for change across Europe. The transport committee of the European Parliament, in June 2025, approved a motion that would grant travellers an entitlement to a complimentary carry-on item that has a mass of 7kg or less, on top of a smaller personal bag.

This suggested regulation would cover every journey inside and departing from the European Union, compelling airlines to create a uniform standard for their basic carry-on allowance. This action follows a 2014 decision by the European Court of Justice which concluded that hand luggage is an "essential component" of travelling. Spanish authorities have already penalised a number of budget carriers, easyJet among them, for what the country's consumer protection body termed "abusive" luggage rules.

The Airlines' Counterargument

Airline industry bodies have voiced strong opposition to the proposed EU-wide ban on hand luggage fees. They argue that forcing carriers to include a larger cabin bag in the ticket price would remove choice for passengers who prefer to travel light for a lower fare. Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of the lobby group Airlines for Europe, questioned the logic, likening it to making popcorn and drinks a mandatory part of a cinema ticket.

Airlines warn that the costs associated with handling more cabin baggage would simply be absorbed into the overall ticket price, potentially making flights more expensive for everyone. They advocate for a system where passengers can decide and pay for the services they actually want and need. This fundamental disagreement sets the stage for a continued battle between industry and regulators over the future of airline pricing.

Image Credit - Liverpool Echo

The Human Cost of Enforcement

The responsibility for implementing these disliked charges rests entirely with ground handling personnel, whose hourly pay is approximately £12. While the bonus programmes increase their earnings, they also put these workers into situations of conflict. The problem is made worse because these employees frequently work for outside contractors, which establishes a distance between the airline that creates the rules and the people who must enforce them.

Swissport, a major global player in aviation services, has faced scrutiny over its labour practices in other contexts. In the United States, the company has faced complaints and strikes regarding wages and benefits for its cargo workers. While the company states it offers competitive salaries and fair working conditions, the bonus scheme highlights the pressures placed on its front-line employees to maximise revenue for airline clients.

Navigating the Rules: A Complex Task for Travellers

At present, flyers need to decipher a complicated and frequently contradictory set of luggage regulations. Every carrier establishes its own limits for dimensions, mass, and quantity of bags. For example, Ryanair lets you bring a compact personal bag at no cost, but a bigger 10kg carry-on has charges that fluctuate between £9.49 and £44.99 based on the specific journey and when it was booked. Arriving at the departure point with a bag that is too big could lead to a penalty as high as £75.

This absence of uniformity makes it hard for people to assess the actual price of a flight. Organisations that protect consumers in Britain, such as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), have the job of making sure pricing is clear and just. Fresh consumer safeguarding legislation in the UK, set to be enacted in 2025, may grant the CMA the authority to levy substantial penalties on businesses for unjust methods like drip pricing, a practice where extra charges are tacked on during the purchase sequence.

The Future of Baggage Fees

The debate over hand luggage fees is approaching a critical juncture. The European Parliament's proposal, if approved by member states, could fundamentally reshape the low-cost airline model in Europe. It represents a significant victory for consumer rights advocates who have long campaigned for greater transparency and fairness in airline pricing. However, the airline industry's resistance suggests that the battle is far from over.

Passengers, in the meantime, remain caught in the middle. The revelation of bonus payments for gate staff adds a new dimension to the frustration felt by many travellers, suggesting a system designed to catch them out rather than assist them. As regulators and airlines continue to clash, the simple act of packing for a holiday will remain a source of anxiety and potential expense for millions.