Hold onto your seatbelts, folks, it’s been a week of turbulence in the world of travel. From high-flying commissions for spotting oversized bags to a new visa fee that’s causing some serious air guments, it seems the journey is getting more complicated than the destination.
Europe’s largest airline, Ryanair, is seriously considering upping the stakes for their staff. According to its famously outspoken boss, Michael O’Leary, the airline is “aggressive about eliminating the scourge of passengers with excess baggage.” He confirmed that agents who successfully identify and charge for these bags are already on a commission-based system, and he’s now thinking of increasing it. It appears that for some, the sky’s the limit on these bonuses.
O’Leary also grounded a recent push from European parliament to increase free carry on baggage allowance, stating in no uncertain terms that it has “no chance of passing into law.” The reason, he explained, is a simple one: there’s just not enough space on board.
Ryanair isn’t the only one flying solo on this issue. A leaked email suggests that staff at several UK airports are also on commission for spotting outsize bags for budget carrier EasyJet. While the airline stated it’s focused on “ensuring our ground handling partners apply our policies correctly,” it seems this is one area where the truth is in the baggage.
Meanwhile, across the pond, US low fare carriers are making headlines, too. Southwest Airlines has finally brought its trademark open seating policy to an end, putting an end to the mid air rush for a good seat.
The US tourism industry is also facing a bumpy landing with the announcement of a new £200 “visa integrity fee” for visitors. The idea is that if a visitor leaves on time, they’ll get the money back but with no refund procedure yet unveiled, many are feeling this is a classic bait and switch. This, combined with the fact that the US is on the verge of dropping out of the top 10 in the global passport power rankings for the first time in 20 years, suggests the country might not be as welcoming as it once was.
