Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PASSENGERS
THE airline has been criticised for its strict hand-baggage policy and the amount it charges if luggage is judged too big to take on board.
It made almost £1.5billion last year through these “hidden charges” – more than any budget airline outside the US.
Each passenger is charged on average £12 extra for excess luggage, payment with credit cards, travel insurance and in-flight food and drink, according to a study by travel consultancy Ideaworks.
Ryanair’s “Fly To Win” scratchcard game is €2 for a chance to win €1million. But the odds of winning the top prize are estimated at one in a billion. Just one passenger with a “Yes” scratchcard can choose from 125 envelopes, only one of which is worth a million.
Mr Jacobs said other prizes included cash and cars, with a minimum €50,000 prize in the 125-1 draw. low in comparison to other airlines and is topped up by pay for flying hours.
“This is a safety issue because if you are a captain or a first officer, selfemployed or on a zero-hours contract, it encourages you to go work when you are ill as you need to get paid. We pay for our own uniforms and have to bring our own food and water on flights.”
But Ryanair’s Mr Jacobs said crew get an annual uniform allowance up to €425.
He added: “We don’t operate so-called “zero-hour” contracts. Pilots are by law restricted to flying less than 900 hours per year (just 18 hours per week) and on a sample roster, a pilot typically works four days on, followed by three days off.”