Gilly Bachelor has shared her experience and told other passengers to be aware of the rules
Gilly Bachelor is an experienced flier and travel agency owner(Image: Jam Press)
A Ryanair passenger has shared her story after getting a fine over her suitcase. Gilly Bachelor said she was heading from Birmingham Airport to Malaga in Spain when her travel plans suddenly became £75 more expensive. The travel agency owner said she was boarding the plan when staff put her cabin bag into the baggage sizer.
The 55 year old claimed it was just her bag’s wheels poking out of the sizer, but alleged she was told it would cost her £75 to bring the bag on board on top of the £125 she had already reportedly paid for priority tickets and two cabin bag options.
She said: “I’ve taken that bag on lots of flights with no problem, just not Ryanair. As we were boarding, a gentleman was checking all the bags.
“They put it in the sizer, and the issue was with the wheels, and that it was slightly too wide. I travel a lot myself, so I’m usually pretty relaxed, and clearly this caught me out this time.”
The Cannock resident described the episode as “stressful”, but claimed she wasn’t the only one facing this issue on her flight. She claimed at least 20 people on her aircraft were pulled aside and fined as a member of staff checked every bag in the sizer as passengers boarded.
She added: “Ryanair is a very low-cost airline, so they operate to tight margins and will generate extra revenue wherever they can.”
Ryanair guidances notes: “Our overhead lockers can only fit 100 bags so we measure bags at the gate to make sure you are bringing the right size bag in order for us to make sure we can get all 100 bags on board.”
Gilly continued: “Ryanair gets a lot of criticism, but the rules are clear and easy to follow.
“I used them outbound because the timing worked, but flew home with easyJet and my bag was fully compliant, as it would have been with Jet2.”
The travel expert urged people to double check the regulations with the specific airline they’re using to avoid finding themselves in a predicament. She said: “My advice is to check the size rules carefully and invest in a compliant bag. It’s much less stressful than being caught at the gate and paying a fine.”
Ryanair has been approached for comment.