Self-service bag drops

• had become widespread at major airports. Passengers print luggage tags themselves and drop bags without staff intervention.

Strict weight enforcement:

• even 1 kg over could trigger a hefty fee. Staff had less discretion.

Ancillary revenue models matured:

• Most legacy airlines had unbundled tickets (basic economy fares without checked luggage).
• LCC baggage fees had become sophisticated (differentiated by route, season, time of booking).

Automation:

• More airports had „self-tagging“ and automatic conveyors that reject overweight bags.

Cabin baggage rules

• became stricter, with measurements at gates, further monetizing hand luggage.

Check-in at counters

• was still dominant. Self-service kiosks existed, but mostly for boarding passes. Bag drop was mostly staffed.

Free baggage allowances

• were more common, even in economy. Many airlines (especially legacy carriers) still included at least one checked bag in the ticket price.

Weighing of luggage

• was mandatory at staffed counters, but enforcement varied. Some airlines were more lenient.

Low-cost carriers (LCCs)

• like Ryanair or easyJet were already charging for checked bags, but many travelers still expected „free bags“ on full-service airlines.

Overweight fees

• existed, but often less granular. E.g., a flat surcharge for >23 kg, rather than tiered systems.

Then (10 years ago):

Ancillary revenue from luggage was already important for LCCs (Ryanair, Spirit, easyJet), but for legacy airlines it was still a side stream. Main focus was ticket price.

5 years ago:

Checked luggage became one of the top sources of ancillary revenue across the industry.

• • Example (IATA data 2019): Baggage fees generated ~$28 billion globally (about 5% of airline revenue).
  • Airlines began relying on luggage fees to offset slim ticket margins.

Now (2025):

• Ancillary revenue is mission-critical: for many airlines, it accounts for 20–40% of profit margin.
• Baggage fees are among the top two ancillary revenue sources (alongside seat selection/upgrades).
• Airlines promote pre-payment online, locking in extra income before the airport.
• Weight control is not just about cost, but about predictable ancillary income: overweight fees are priced intentionally high to incentivize pre-purchase.