Airlines are making more revenue than ever by charging passengers a premium for oversized bags - and these fees are only expected to increase. 

Budget carriers like Ryanair and easyJet, along with long-haul airlines like British Airways, strictly enforce carry-on restrictions, with charges often starting around £5 for a larger cabin bag or up to £70 if forced to check them at the gate.

Jersey Airport recently faced backlash after it was revealed check-in staff were pressured to meet flight targets by imposing an oversized baggage fee. 

A controversial sign spotted in the airport, encouraged staff to 'hit EasyJet revenue target' of £200 per flight - by slapping passengers with £48 fees for bags that failed to meet the airline's requirements, as reported in the Jersey Post. 

While Ports of Jersey said the sign 'used messaging that did not reflect the customer experience', easyJet has refuted all responsibility and demanded its removal.

However, these charges are nothing new - frequent flyers know the panic of the baggage sizer all too well, fearing fees that can exceed the cost of the flight itself.

These penalties have made airlines around the globe even richer - with a combined $33 billion (£24.3bn) made from oversized baggage fees alone in 2023, as reported by IdeaWorks. 

And according to experts, passengers could be hit with even steeper costs in time, if airlines continue to incentivise staff and earn more from the fees - especially with the jet fuel crisis hitting airlines hard and putting holidays at risk.

Alen Baibekov, CEO of Economy Bookings, says: 'There will continue to be large increases in baggage charges going forward. There are a number of factors putting downward pressure on airline profitability including increasing fuel costs, higher aircraft maintenance costs, increasing costs at airports and increased price competition among carriers. 

'Because most consumers primarily compare the cost of air travel based on the "headline" ticket price (i.e., the advertised price) rather than all of the other things that go with the ticket, many airlines have started charging additional items for the true cost of the trip like baggage.

'Charging for excess baggage is something that airlines can do easily. Excess baggage creates tangible costs for airlines. It takes up more space and may cause delays when it comes to unloading, checking-in and boarding. In addition, if there is excess baggage it may require more labor hours to handle. Low-cost carriers are particularly aggressive with excess baggage fees as this is becoming more of a standard in their business model.'

But which airlines are the worst culprits for charging their customers extra for oversized luggage? We reveal how much airlines are really making from passengers' suitcases - and how much you're likely to pay if you're caught.

Ryanair 

With one of the most stringent baggage policies in the industry, Ryanair frequently charges passengers heavy fees at the boarding gate for oversized cabin bags. 

The Irish budget carrier allows one small personal bag, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, to be brought on board free of charge, with higher fees applied to baggage that exceed these limits, or are not booked in advance. 

Currently, Ryanair charges £12 per kilogram for overweight luggage, with a flat fee of between £40 and £60 for larger bags weighing 20kg at the airport. 

However, it was revealed last year that the airline is paying staff bonuses to catch out passengers who try to sneak oversized cabin bags onto flights – and they can make up to €80 a month just from enforcing the strict rules.

A leaked payslip shows how one former employee earned a 'gate bag bonus' of around €1.50 (£1.30) for every oversized bag they reported, although the monthly bonus was reportedly capped. 

It was further reported in August that the airline boss, Michael O'Leary, planned to increase these bonuses from €1.50 (£1.29) to €2.50 (£2.16) per bag, starting from November 2025. 

Ryanair, which made a staggering €13 billion in revenue last year, confirmed in July 2025 that staff are financially rewarded for flagging bags that breach the rules – with passengers charged up to €75 for each oversized item caught at the gate.

In its annual report for 2025, it was revealed Ryanair made a total ancillary revenue of €4.72 billion (£4.07 billion), which includes money made from baggage fees, seat selection and boarding penalties. 

easyJet

easyJet, another strict enforcer of baggage fees, allows passengers to bring on board a free bag that measures 45 x 36 x 20cm and weighs up to 15kg. 

Standard hold bags, meanwhile, are limited to 23kg, while 32kg bags can be checked in for an added cost.  

However, those who find themselves at the gate with oversized or overweight bags  will be required to an extra £12 per kilogram, or a flat fee of £48 for it to be stowed in the hold.

Similarly to Ryanair, it was revealed in July that airport staff at seven airports across the UK and Channel Islands were being offered cash incentives for every oversized bag they catch among easyJet passengers. 

In a leaked email, Swissport staff were seen to be pocketing £1.20 per oversized bag spotted at Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Jersey, Liverpool and Newcastle airports. 

The scheme, reportedly still active, aims to 'reward agents doing the right thing' with direct payments to employees, according to the internal message signed by Dean Martin, a Swissport station manager at Glasgow Airport, seen by the Sunday Times.

However, in the latest controversy surrounding Jersey Airport, in which a sign spotted by a passenger encouraged staff to impose baggage fees to 'hit EasyJet revenue target' of £200 per flight, the airline has denied any involvement. 

An easyJet spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'This is not an easyJet poster and easyJet does not set bag charge targets. As soon as we were made aware of this sign at Jersey airport, we instructed the ground handler at the airport to remove it.' 

As of 2024, the airline generated record ancillary revenue, with flight add-ons - including luggage - reaching approximately £3.3 billion.

British Airways

Passengers flying with British Airways are entitled to a generous free baggage allowance of one carry-on measuring 40 x 30 x 15 cm, weighing up to 23kg. 

Those who exceed these limits are required to pay a flat fee of £65 per overweight bag, while bags weighing over 32kg, the maximum allowance, won't be accepted as checked baggage. 

Although the airline has not publicly broken down how much it has made from overweight bags, the fees are part of the airline's total revenue of £28.9 billion in 2025. 

Vueling 

Vueling passengers are permitted to bring on board a free underseat bag of 40 x 30 x 20cm, while a 10kg overhead cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 20 cm is included in fares in the higher range. 

In addition, passengers can check-in bags weighing  15, 20, 25, or 30 kg, with different costs applied to each piece of luggage, depending on their weight. 

Should cabin bags exceed the size dimensions or 10kg limit, they must be checked in. This can incur a fee of €110-€140 (£95-£121). 

If the free underseat bag is too large, it must also be checked in, with passengers required to pay an extra fee of €60–€75 (£52-£65).  

The airline, a Spanish low-cost carrier under the IAG group, relies heavily on these charges, with reports showing over one billion euros generated from ancillary services in 2024, which includes fees for oversized bags. 

Virgin Atlantic

On Virgin Atlantic flights, passengers can take on board one piece of free hand luggage measuring 23 x 36 x 56 cm, while the maximum weight depends on the type of ticket purchased. 

Those who have booked a seat in economy and premium economy are entitled to one 23kg checked bag, while those in Upper Class can bring checked bags weighing up to 32kg each. 

If a checked bag is found to weigh between 23kg and 32kg, economy and premium economy passengers must pay a flat fee of £65. 

Meanwhile, bags that exceed the approved size dimensions will incur a charge of £200. If bags are are found to be oversized and overweight, both fees might be applied. 

While the airline has not disclosed how much it has made specifically from oversized or overweight luggage, it made a total £3.3bn in 2024. 

Wizz Air 

Wizz Air, known for its ultra-low fares, allows passengers to bring onboard a free carry-on measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm, which must fit under the seat.

Passengers who purchase WIZZ Priority are permitted to take an additional bag of 55 x 40 x 23cm, which can be stored in the overhead compartment. 

Up to six checked bags can be purchased in 10 kg, 20 kg, 26 kg, or 32 kg, with fees varying by season, though high-season checked bags can cost as much as €120.50 (£104). 

Those who are found with bags exceeding these limits are required to pay an additional €13 (£11) per kilogram. 

Carry-on bags that are deemed overweight or oversized at the gate incur a charge of €65 (£56). 

In a 2024 study conducted by Which?, it found Wizz Air flights cost four times as much as they appear when cabin bags and seat selection are added, rising from £29 to £124. 

As of 2025, the airline generated €2.35 billion (£2.028) in total ancillary revenue, which includes fees for oversized bags. 

Aer Lingus 

Irish low-budget carrier Air Lingus operates a tiered system for economy passengers, with the least expensive being Saver and the highest being Flex. 

Saver fares often require paid extras, though passengers are permitted to bring on board a free carry-on bag with dimensions of 55 x 40 x 24 cm, weighing up to 10kg.

While checked bag fees range from around £21 to £51 for 20 to 25kg, excess weight for all bags is charged at around £8.60 per kilo, with overweight checked bags incurring a flat fee of up £64. 

Specific revenue figures from oversized baggage are not publically broken down by the airline, although total ancillary revenue - which includes fees for seat selection, meals and bag charges - for 2025 totalled €2.82 million (£2.43 million). 

What can passengers do if they are 'wrongly' charged?

With more and more flight staff getting bonuses for catching passengers with oversized luggage, Which? has claimed airlines are more frequently charging fines for bags that comply with the airline's dimensions.

If this happens to you, the consumer champion says the first thing to do is complain. 

It also helps to take photos of the bag inside the sizer from every possible angle, which shows the time of boarding. 

Each airline has an online contact form on their website for complaints, so it's worth logging the situation as soon as possible. 

Most airlines will require you to provide your booking details, evidence of the additional fee you paid and evidence of the bag you took – which is where the picture of it in the sizer comes in. Taking photos of it with a tape measurer also helps. 

If you don’t feel that your complaint has been handled fairly, you can contact the Alternative Dispute Resolution provider AviationADR. 

While there have been previous concerns about AviationADR, the service it provides is free, and it’s authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority to handle complaints.