Wizz Air Admits Incentivizing Airport Staff to Enforce Luggage Rules

Strategic Insights -

The budget airline Wizz Air has acknowledged that it pays third-party ground handlers for identifying and charging customers for oversized cabin baggage. In an effort to enforce its strict hand luggage rules, Wizz Air reveals that these handlers receive incentives, although the airline claims these fees are not designed to make money from customers. The topic of extra fees for hand luggage is contentious, with the airline industry strongly objecting to a recent EU ruling that would limit these charges in the future.

Key Takeaways:

  • Wizz Air outsources baggage handling to third-party providers, who are entitled to charge extra handling fees for customers with oversized cabin baggage.
  • These ground handlers receive incentives, such as cash, for enforcing luggage rules correctly.
  • One ground-handling firm, Menzies Aviation, services Wizz Air at several destinations but declined to comment on its policy regarding incentives for staff.
  • Only a tiny percentage of customers are affected by oversized baggage fees, according to Wizz Air.
  • The airline claims its rules are designed to reduce time spent fitting luggage into overhead compartments and ensure flights depart on time.
  • The topic of extra fees for hand luggage is contentious, with the airline industry objecting to a EU ruling that would limit these charges.
  • Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK, has expressed strong objections to the ruling, likening it to being forced to buy specific concessions while attending a cinema.
  • Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines For Europe, has also spoken out against the ruling, acknowledging that she has been charged by Wizz Air staff for having a too-big bag.

Statistics:

  • [euro]1.50: The amount Ryanair pays staff for intercepting customers bringing oversized bags onto an aircraft.
  • [euro]1: The amount easyJet pays its ground_handler staff for every gate bag taken after tax.
  • [euro]50: The amount a former employee of a firm contracted by Wizz Air received per month for every 100 passengers made to pay a fee for having oversized bags.
  • 40: The proportion of the [euro]50 fee that goes to Wizz Air, with the remaining 10 going to the employer, Romanian Airport Services (RAS).
  • 7: The number of destinations in Europe where Menzies Aviation services Wizz Air, including London, Budapest, and Cluj.

Sources:

  • [Source 1] "Wizz Air employees do not receive commission for identifying and charging customers for oversized cabin baggage," said a Wizz Air spokesperson.
  • [Source 2] According to Menzies Aviation, the ground-handling firm that declined to comment on its policy regarding incentives for staff.
  • [Source 3] Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK, quoted in The Mirror, objecting to the EU ruling on extra fees for hand luggage.
  • [Source 4] Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines For Europe, quoted in The Mirror, comparing the ruling to being forced to buy specific concessions at a cinema.
  • [Source 5] EasyJet, admitting to paying its ground_handler staff [euro]1 after tax for every gate bag taken.