UK Airport Staff Receive Bonuses for Identifying Oversized Bags on easyJet Flights

Airport staff are receiving cash bonuses for identifying easyJet passengers with oversized bags, as per a leaked email. Swissport employees are eligible to earn £1.20 for each gate bag identified at seven UK and Channel Islands airports. The scheme aims to reward staff for proper conduct and does not penalize those who do not meet targets. Ground handlers at Gatwick, Bristol, and Manchester airports are also paid for spotting non-compliant easyJet bags. Swissport ground handlers earn around £12 per hour and are tasked with enforcing baggage rules, which can lead to confrontations with passengers. EasyJet allows small free bags under the seat and charges for larger bags stored in overhead lockers. If an oversized bag is confiscated at the gate, the passenger is charged £48. The email outlining the incentive scheme was sent in November 2023 and is still in effect today. Payments related to the scheme are directly paid to employees. Swissport stated that they follow airline policies and focus on safe operations. EasyJet mentioned that ground handling agents manage remuneration independently. Ryanair stated they do not offer financial incentives to Swissport staff at their gates. The practice of incentivizing staff to confiscate bags may upset passengers and has sparked calls for hand baggage fees to be eliminated. The European parliament's transport committee recently voted to grant passengers the right to an additional free piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg. If approved, this rule would apply to all flights within and to/from the EU.