Check out Ryanair's stratospheric rises

One More Thing: On Wednesday, Ryanair increased the cost of putting a piece of luggage in the hold by an inflation-busting 50…

One More Thing:On Wednesday, Ryanair increased the cost of putting a piece of luggage in the hold by an inflation-busting 50 per cent to €9 each way, while checking in at the airport has risen by 33 per cent to €4 a go.

And Michael O'Leary made it clear that the charge will continue to increase until at least half of his passengers are carrying only hand luggage.

Ryanair isn't the only airline jacking up baggage charges. Aer Lingus pulled the same trick before Christmas.

O'Leary argues that you can avoid the charge by carrying your bag on to the aircraft and that he's constantly lowering Ryanair's average fare, which is the best in the industry.

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Fair enough. But if you need to bring a scissors with you or you're off on your summer holiday with the wife and kids, you're screwed.

The irony, of course, is that O'Leary blows a gasket if any airport Ryanair uses proposes increasing passenger charges, even though it's the punter flying who bears the cost. It's a neat trick.

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times