Airport Staff Pocket Bonus for Spotting Oversized EasyJet Bags, Leaked Email Reveals

The information was revealed by the Jersey Evening Post, which first published the email sent by a Swissport manager stating that the boarding staff at the airports concerned are "eligible to receive £1.20 (£1 after taxes) for each" oversized bag, in order to "reward the agents who do what is necessary".

Contacted by the Sunday Times, a former Swissport passenger service manager confirmed the information, explaining that with a remuneration of just £12 per hour, the staff were diligently monitoring the queues to detect oversized EasyJet bags and earn their bonuses.

According to the British newspaper, another aviation company, DHL Supply Chain, was also receiving an additional "symbolic" remuneration for the identification of non-compliant EasyJet luggage. While Swissport has assured that it "serves its airline clients" by "applying their policy", EasyJet has in turn criticized its ground subcontractors for managing the remuneration directly without oversight.

EasyJet offers passengers the possibility to bring a small piece of hand luggage on board free of charge. But for larger bags, they will have to pay a surcharge starting at £5.99 depending on the flight. For larger bags departing from the UK, the passenger must pay a £48 surcharge to check them in the hold.