Baggage

The clip, featuring a Qatar Airways wide-body aircraft, was filmed at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain. The zoomed-in footage, filmed from a terminal window, shows the ground staff member outside the plane’s rear door.

A baggage handler was caught on camera hurling luggage in scenes have left social media users divided.

The zoomed-in footage, filmed from a terminal window, shows the ground staff member outside the plane’s rear door. He can be seen catching items tossed by a colleague and flinging them on.

The clip, featuring a Qatar Airways wide-body aircraft, was filmed at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain. The video-taker joked: “I’ll put this bottle of wine in the suitcase, I don’t think it’ll break…”

Social media users were quick to react to the clip. “This video should reach his company so they can see how well this man works,” one said.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

READ MORE: Ryanair passenger ‘stunned’ to receive ‘worst food ever’ on flight

Raquel questioned: “Is that what we pay for checked baggage for?” While Mónica vented: “This only happens in Spain. I’ve never seen luggage treated so badly anywhere else, it’s unbelievable. Almost every time we come back from a trip, the suitcases arrive wrecked.”

Analú said: “Honestly, that’s a disgrace. I’m sure there are plenty of unemployed people who would be happy to do that job properly.”

But not everyone was convinced the baggage handler was in the wrong.

“For those who’ve never flown or even seen a plane and criticise without knowing: they’re just taking out the blankets to clean the cabin, it’s not luggage,” one commenter pointed out.

Pablo added: “Suitcases aren’t unloaded at the passenger doors.” And Nicolás concluded: “Honestly, I think he’s doing everything right – he’s very efficient at his job.”

Madrid–Barajas Airport and Qatar Airways have been approached for comment.

The incident is not the only aviation-related outrage to ruffle feathers. Declan Minogue and his wife Claire Minogue, 61, were travelling back from Faro to Dublin Airport on 21 July after seven relaxing nights in Portugal. The 63-year-old felt a bit of hunger coming on, so he decided to order the £5.90 Hot Ham and Cheese Panini from a flight attendant.

However, it was not the hunger-busting snack he had hoped for. Decland claims he was ‘stunned’ to open it up and discover just one piece of ham and the ‘tiniest bit of cheese’ with no butter. Despite polishing off the ‘bland’ sandwich that he compared to ‘something out of Oliver Twist,’ Declan claims he was forced to buy more food when he landed because he was still hungry.

Taking to social media, the dad-of-two shared a photo of the sandwich captioned ‘shocking and insulting’.

Declan who lives in Lusk, Dublin, Ireland, said: “It was the worst airplane food ever. It was a massive rip off. I was shocked when I saw it. I got it and I opened it and couldn’t believe it so I took a picture. It had two slices of ham and the tiniest bit of cheese and the cheese was like butter. There was no substance to it. I was stunned.”

Aug. 13 (UPI) — Travelers from Seoul to Atlanta soon will be able to more-quickly travel through security and perhaps make their connections more easily, thanks to a new partnership with the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a collaboration with the Republic of Korea and aviation security authorities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The partnership expands CBP’s International Remote Baggage Screening program, which allows passengers traveling from Incheon International Airport to enter the United States faster, a press release said.

“By leveraging advanced technology and enhancing our processes, we are driving innovation in air travel that adds an extra layer of security while streamlining the entry process for international travel,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations Diane J. Sabatino in a statement.

The new IRBS system X-rays travelers’ luggage and transmits the scans to Atlanta so CBP can see them while the passengers are in flight. This prevents the passengers from having to re-check their bags when they land in Atlanta, which can take significant time.

But CBP can still refer a passenger and their luggage for further inspection after landing.

The program was first announced in April 2025 and began operations at the Los Angeles International Airport for flights arriving from Sydney International Airport, in Australia.

Sabatino said in April that the program will eventually roll out to other airports and countries.

Aug. 4 (UPI) — Two U.S. travelers were detained for drug smuggling last month after they were caught carrying 72 pounds of marijuana hashish in their luggage on a flight between Los Angeles and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday.

The couple, who were catching a connecting flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil, were selected for outbound Passenger Enforcement Rover Team exams when CBP found heavy objects wrapped in white t-shirts inside their baggage.

Officers took the couple’s passports and receipts for checked baggage to conduct a more thorough search. They found vacuum-sealed bags containing 37 pounds of marijuana hashish in one suitcase and 35 pounds in another.

CBP officers also found bags of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy.

“These individuals believed they were going to easily slip by CBP’s watchful eye — they were wrong,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations at Chicago Field Office. “Unfortunately, this is a method of smuggling we continue to encounter with narcotic traffickers and there are consequences for their actions.”

Last month, CBP officers seized 60,470 pounds of drugs at ports of entry into and out of the United States by air, sea and land.

A travel expert has advised people heading off on holiday to use a handy tool to check their luggage amid Ryanair’s plans to pay staff to check for oversized bags

Holidaymakers worried about being stung by hefty excess baggage fees at the airport have been advised to carry out a vital check using two “trustworthy” items. A travel expert issued the guidance following news that Ryanair is thinking about increasing bonuses for staff who catch passengers with overweight bags.

The subject of extra fees has been a sore spot for money-conscious travellers in recent years given different airlines have different allowances. And recent comments by Michael O’Leary, the airline’s CEO, will do little to calm the nerves of those flying off on their summer holidays.

To avoid getting stung by such fees, Paul Stewart, the founder of travel company MyBaggage, suggested people check their luggage’s weight at home using two simple items instead of using the facilities at the airport.

“Investing in a trustworthy luggage scale and measuring tape is the best course of action,” he said. “Check your bags at home rather than at the airport. In order to account for scale differences between your home scale and the airline’s equipment, I always advise packing a little under the weight limit.”

The travel guru added: “If at all possible, opt for soft-sided luggage rather than hard cases because the former are more accommodating if you have to fit them into sizers. Consider wearing your heaviest shoes and jacket while travelling rather than packing them, and pack your heaviest items in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.”

Luggage scales can be bought for as little as £5.99 on Amazon and avoid the risk of being fined £70.

In addition to weighing your luggage at home, Paul also suggested the time-honoured tradition of reading up each airline’s policies as they can vary between carriers and routes, reports Bristol Live. He said: “Document the size and weight of your luggage at home as proof in case of any disagreements.”

Stewart’s advice came after O’Leary discussed the possibility of improving incentives for staff in an attempt to relieve the pressure of excess baggage on his airline.

In an interview with RTE’s Morning Ireland, the low-cost carrier’s CEO said: “We are happy to incentivise our [staff] with a share of those excess baggage fees, which we think will decline over the coming year or two. It is about €1.50 [£1.30] per bag – and we’re thinking of increasing it, so we eliminate it.”

At present, airline employees earn around £1.30 per item for flagging oversized bags, which is capped at £70 per month.

“We’re flying largely full flights, about half the passengers can bring two bags and the other half can only bring one – because that’s all that fits in the plane. We’re already struggling with that amount of baggage,” he shared.

Ryanair current permits each traveller to take one small personal item aboard, which must slot beneath the seat, weigh no more than 10kg and conform to measurements of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.

Passengers who opt for the priority boarding service at additional expense can bring the same sized item, plus a 10kg case (55cm x 40cm x 20cm), which goes in the overhead compartment. This upgrade also grants flyers first access to the aircraft via the priority boarding lane at departure gates.

If crew members determine a traveller’s luggage fails to comply with its rules, passengers could be fined £70.

However, the Ryanair CEO’s bonus comments alarmed Stewart, who argued this strategy was merely “the tip of the iceberg” and feared other budget carriers would soon jump on the bandwagon.

“When airline management implements bonuses for spotting baggage abuses, staff enforcement will obviously become more stringent,” he said. “As for Ryanair, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once other low-cost airlines realise the potential for profit, they will most likely follow suit.

“Instead of giving passengers the benefit of the doubt, staff are now actively seeking out reasons to impose fees, and the definition of ‘suitable baggage’ is getting more and more restrictive. Travellers must now pack and measure much more precisely as a result of this change.”

Flying with just a small personal bag can be a struggle when it comes to packing light, but a flight attendant has shared a handy hack that could help avoid extra fees

Excess luggage charges can quickly escalate, turning a dream getaway into a costly nightmare. Keen to keep my Poland trip this month on the cheap, I flew with no-frills carrier Ryanair and stuck to the complimentary baggage allowance – just a small personal item.

The challenge arises when you’re keen to bring home souvenirs, on top of having a compact cross-body bag. Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz previously shared with Express.co.uk a nifty loophole, noting that “duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage” and are usually overlooked by gate staff. This tip has even been echoed by thrifty TikTokers, so I was eager to try it out.

Miguel outlined the trick: “If you have something that doesn’t fit in your suitcase or you want to bring an extra bag on board, here’s the trick.

“All you have to do is carry a duty-free bag. Or ask for one at the duty-free shop, and you can place whatever you want in the shopping bag.”

Boarding the plane with my bulging duty-free bag had me anxious, but to my relief, the crew waved me through without a hitch.

With Ryanair’s baggage fees stretching from £12 to £59.99, avoiding that extra charge felt like a victory.

This trick was a lifesaver for the extra bag and jacket that I couldn’t squeeze into my main luggage.

While this method did work wonders for me, a few folks have mentioned that airline staff requested a look inside their bags.

To sidestep this, if you’ve made any duty-free purchases, place them on top. Also, always ensure your airline permits carrying duty-free items onboard in this manner.

Having triumphed with this hack, I’m eager to test out the neck pillow packing hack. This essentially involves replacing the pillow stuffing with small clothing items.

However, it’s worth noting that some travellers have been caught out using this hack, with a few even being denied boarding.

A baggage handler has shared the ‘worst’ types of suitcases to take on a plane – and those that are more likely to get to your destination unscathed

A baggage handler has named the “worst” types of luggage to use when jetting off abroad, and also revealed which are more likely to arrive in one piece. With a plethora of suitcase options out there, picking the perfect travel companion can be quite the conundrum.

Thankfully, social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit have become goldmines for savvy travel advice, with airport staff dishing out their best-kept secrets to ensure your belongings stay intact during transit. On Reddit, a user by the name of Adam, who works as a baggage handler, opened up the floor for any burning questions.

A curious traveller inquired: “Any tips for avoiding baggage being lost or destroyed? And best/worst types of suitcases/bags?”

Adam’s top tip for dodging misplaced bags was simple: name tags. He pointed out that many bags look the same and often end up on the same flight, saying: “We see a lot of bags that look exactly identical to one another going on the same flight.”

He suggested personalising your luggage with a tag bearing your name and address, making it easy to identify as yours. Other recommendations included distinctive straps wrapped around the bag, reports the Express.

For those keen to keep their cases from harm, he recommended opting for luggage that boasts “four good wheels, with soft lining on the inside and a hard outer shell.”

When another user quizzed, “Why do you hate my bag?” Adam had a clear response: “Is your bag one with a dodgy wheel? One with no wheels at all? One with no proper handholds? Those are some of the bags I really, really hate.”

A curious traveller posed the question: “Hard case bags or cloth bags? Which is better?” To which the airline employee replied: “If you don’t mind your stuff being compressed, then soft case will do you fine, these tend to be more space efficient in the hold.”

The airport worker shared some savvy tips for safeguarding breakables while flying, advising: “If you have anything kinda fragile, you want a hard case to keep that stuff protected.”

When quizzed about the best and worst types of luggage to use, Adam revealed: “Some of the worst bags to buy are the ones which have no wheels.”

He explained the logistics behind the scenes at his airline: “In my airline, none of our holds are bin loaded, so we have to manually stack the bags inside each hold, and they can get fairly long. If your bag has at least 2 high quality wheels, then it allows us to roll them down the hold quickly, making it easier for us.”

Adam highlighted the importance of efficiency, noting: “Otherwise, we have to throw the bags in order to keep to the scheduled times.”

He confessed his pet peeve when it comes to luggage: “My absolute least favourite bags are the ones that have 4 wheels, but one of them is seized up, so we try to roll it down, but it just falls over after moving 6 inches.”

Burglars no longer case streets, instead they scroll through social media and send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts, which could leave you at risk

When you’re away on holiday, it’s incredibly tempting to share updates with everyone back home. However, that innocent photo of your hotel room or boarding pass could potentially cost you thousands if you’re not cautious.

According to Forum Insurance, posting real-time social media updates might invalidate your home insurance should you fall victim to burglary whilst away. This stems from “reasonable care” provisions included in numerous policies, reports the Express.

Insurance companies may contend that publicly announcing your home is empty constitutes negligence.

Niraj Mamtora, Director and Home Insurance Expert at Forum Insurance, explained that criminals have become far more sophisticated nowadays.

He stated: “Burglars aren’t just casing streets anymore, they’re scrolling through Instagram stories and Facebook timelines.

“With this in mind, insurers expect policyholders to take reasonable care to protect their property, and that now includes being cautious about what you share online.”

“For example, posting ‘Off to Greece for two weeks!’ could be considered negligence under policy terms, similar to leaving doors unlocked.”

Even sharing within private groups offers no protection, he warned: “Screenshots can circulate, and insurers may argue you didn’t sufficiently limit audience access.

“Many insurers include clauses requiring policyholders to ‘take care to prevent loss.’

If you publicly broadcast your holiday plans, insurers could argue you breached this duty. Always assume anything shared online, even privately, could be seen by criminals.”

Niraj warns that even innocent-looking posts can alert criminals: “They often monitor public profiles or send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts.

“Even something as simple as tagging yourself at the airport or sharing a boarding pass photo can give criminals a clear window of opportunity.”

To protect yourself from criminals while on holiday, there are several precautions you can take.

Niraj advises checking your insurance policy for clauses like “reasonable care” or “unforced entry”, and suggests waiting until you’re back home before posting holiday snaps.

It’s also wise to set your social media accounts to private, regularly review your friends list, and decline friend requests from people you don’t know.

Former check-in agent Ashley Bautista debunks the truth behind an overweight baggage hack that many think will lead to them avoiding last minute fees

Working at one of the busiest airports in the world has taught me some tips and tricks when it comes to travelling – and one hack Brits think will work can actually backfire.

Now that the summer holidays have begun, many Brits are looking forward to spending time away from home. As light as your summer clothes might feel, don’t be fooled, as they can add up in the suitcase. That’s when your bag becomes overweight.

And there’s nothing more infuriating than arriving at the check-in desk and being told that your bag is overweight by a few kilos. Naturally, no one wants to leave their items behind, and no one wants to be financially stung on-the-spot. If you’re travelling alone, most of the time there aren’t any other options but to pay the extra fee, which tends to be expensive.

READ MORE: Tiny suitcase label which ‘guarantees’ your luggage is first off the plane

Different rules apply to all airlines, which is why it’s always good to check the weight allowance per passenger. These can vary between 23 kg and 32 kg, depending on the airline and the ticket fare. However, it’s important to note that no piece of luggage can contain more than 32kg, and this stern rule applies at all UK airports.

Mick Temple, managing director of Heathrow, said: “We are committed to implementing safe working practices airport wide, which is why we want to make sure that all our airlines adhere to the same guidelines to help lessen manual handling injuries among airport staff.”

READ MORE: Airport worker’s suitcase hack that means it comes off the plane first

Lifting your suitcase doesn’t work

As a former check-in agent, I would play the game of pretending that I didn’t see the person I was checking in had a kilo or two more than their allowance. However, there would be occasions when their bags would be too heavy as per the airport’s health and safety guidelines.

Don’t even try lifting your suitcase slightly to reduce its weight on the scales by also trying to distract the check-in agent, because it doesn’t work.

With honesty and a good attitude, if you’re lucky, the agent may waive the excess baggage fee if your luggage is a little bit over the limit, usually up to 2kg. Nonetheless, depending on the circumstances, exceptions can be made.

Passengers have to remember that check-in agents are travellers themselves, and they understand the feeling of having to open up a suitcase in the middle of the queue and rearrange it under pressure. During these occasions, the most important thing is to remain calm. If you’re travelling internationally, you should arrive at the airport two to three hours before your flight to avoid the stress.

Efforts should also be made to weigh the case before you come to the airport to avoid these awkward moments. No one wants to start their holidays on the wrong foot, right?

The budget airline has announced a change to luggage limits for free baggage – which will come into action in just a few weeks – here’s everything you need to know

Europe’s biggest budget airline, Ryanair, has revealed a huge change to luggage limits for free baggage, set to be implemented in weeks.

At present, the airline allows a carry-on bag measuring 40 x 25 x 20cm on board at no extra charge, offering a volume of 20 litres. But soon, travellers will be able to pack a little more generously as the new dimensions will change to 40 x 30 x 20cm – effectively increasing the volume to 24 litres.

This increase in the free allowance is a response to an initiative by the European Commission to encourage airlines across Europe to standardise. In a statement, Ryanair confirmed the change and said it would be introduced in time for the summer holidays in a few weeks.

A spokesperson said: “Ryanair’s current free ‘personal bag’ size is 40 x 25 x 20cm. Following the new EU minimum bag size of 40 x 30 x 15cm, Ryanair will increase its max ‘personal bag’ dimensions to 40 x 30 x 20cm, so that Ryanair’s ‘personal bag’ allowance is bigger than the EU standard.

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“This change will be implemented over the coming weeks, as our airport bag sizers are adjusted.” The spokesperson confirmed that the expanded luggage limit would be free, reports Belfast Live.

Airlines for Europe (A4E) has been in discussions with the transport commissioner in Brussels, Adina Vălean, about making life simpler for passengers. The organisation says that “all A4E airlines will roll out the guaranteed dimensions and have them in place by the end of the 2025 summer season.”

Ourania Georgoutsakou, the organisation’s managing director, added: “This will align A4E members with the decision of member states made last month and bring more clarity to passengers across Europe. From city-hoppers to family travellers, everyone will benefit from the same clear rule across our members’ networks.”

Despite the new “standardised” baggage dimensions, most airlines are set to carry on with their current practices. British Airways, Jet2, and easyJet already offer allowances that surpass these dimensions.

According to The Independent, an easyJet spokesperson confirmed their dimensions will remain the same, at 45 x 36 x 20cm, giving a maximum volume of 32 litres. British Airways and Jet2 currently offer a slightly similar size of 40 x 30 x 15cm for a small bag that fits underneath the seat in front.

Additionally, British Airways also offers the option of taking a 56 x 45 x 25cm cabin bag onboard for free. As it stands, Ryanair appears to be the only major airline set to make the change.

The adjustment in rules will require recalibration at all airport sizing stations, which means passengers with previously acceptable luggage will now have to shop for new ones.

Last month saw MEPs advocating for airlines to allow two pieces of cabin luggage per passenger. However, airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air staunchly oppose this, citing impracticality.

The EU Parliament’s transport committee has also endorsed an amendment aiming to scrap charges for small carry-on items. Under a prospective new EU regulation, passengers would have the right to carry handbags up to 7kg free of additional fees.

A number of airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, presently charge extra for larger cabin bags intended for the overhead locker as part of their standard fares, with only a small under-seat bag included in the basic ticket price.

Under the proposed policy, passengers would be entitled to one free cabin bag weighing up to 7kg and not exceeding 100cms in size, in addition to a smaller personal item that can fit under the seat. This policy would apply to all flights to and from the EU, including routes between the EU and the UK.

When asked for a comment, Ryanair referred to a statement by Airlines for Europe regarding the EU’s plans, stating: “Airlines for Europe (A4E) today confirmed that its member airlines have started applying the guaranteed set of dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 cm for the item of cabin baggage that usually is placed under the seat in front- the ‘personal item’- agreed by member states last month.

“The agreement reached on June 5, 2025, sets out the dimensions of the personal item, which passengers can already bring into the cabin at no extra cost. It is defined as an unchecked bag with “dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 cm”.”

All A4E airlines are set to introduce guaranteed cabin-bag dimensions by the end of the 2025 summer season. Carriers will still have the freedom to allow larger personal items, as many already do.

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Packing for a weekend getaway can be a struggle when you’re trying to keep costs low – but one woman has shared a simple trick to avoid paying cabin bag fees

We all want to score the best deals when jetting off to soak up some sun abroad.

But with major airlines cracking down on luggage allowances, packing for a quick weekend getaway has become tricky — and often expensive — especially when you’re trying to keep costs low.

Luckily, one savvy traveller has shared a clever hack that lets you avoid paying for a cabin or underseat bag altogether.

If you’ve already visited far-flung places like Australia or South America, chances are you might already own the perfect item for this trick.

Instead of splashing out on an extra carry-on, TikToker Nina Edwine showed how much you can actually fit inside an empty travel pillow cover.

READ MORE: Influencer’s travel hack gets you an entire row of seats on plane to yourself

Not only does this keep your clothes safe, but the packed pillow also doubles as a comfy cushion for those long flights. Don’t be fooled by its small size — Nina stuffed the pillow with plenty of clothes.

In her video, the German traveller unpacks a non-padded bra, a strappy dress, multiple tops, a stunning red co-ord, and more — totalling ten pieces of clothing.

She revealed that this stash was enough to put together “more than six” different outfits.

Proud of her budget-friendly hack, Nina said: “Smart trick to avoid paying 50 euros (£42) for cabin luggage.”

While some airlines allow a small free cabin bag, their size restrictions often aren’t enough — making this hack a game-changer.

The clip has gone viral, racking up over 2.6 million views on TikTok, with more than 75,000 likes and nearly 1,900 comments.

“This is actually genius, for real,” one user commented, liked over 4,100 times.

Another was amazed: “Wait, you fit so much stuff in there!”

A third said: “Legendary… how have I never thought of this?”

And one more chimed in: “Love doing this — it saves so much space.”

One fashion-savvy viewer added: “One of those Uniqlo crossbody bags fits loads. Wear it under your coat with a scarf to hide the strap.”

It comes after another influencer shared a simple trick that will help you get an entire row to yourself on your next flight.

Maddie revealed she had signed up for a service called Neighbour Free when she flew with Etihad. In a video posted to her social media platforms, she explained: “I bid on the seats next to me on the plane, and if the flight isn’t completely full when I board, I get the whole row to myself. It’s basically like Business Class in Economy. I can lie down, sleep, all that.”

The content creator was “excited” to discover she had “won” the seats, meaning she had the entire row to herself. Maddie managed to sleep for eight of the 13.5-hour long-haul flight.

When asked how much this luxury had cost her, Maddie revealed in the comments section of her video that she had paid £200 to upgrade to three seats. In response to a suggestion that it might have been cheaper to upgrade to Business Class, she retorted: “Business Class upgrade would have cost £1,900++.”

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In a major boost for the budget airline, Ryanair has been let off paying a €107million (£91million) fine slapped on it last year by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs

Ryanair has been handed a massive £91million victory by a Spanish court.

The budget airline has been let off paying a €107million (£91million) fine slapped on it last year by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The organisation had claimed that the airlines’ policies on charging for hand luggage violated consumer rights.

The fines were part of a wider crackdown that included three other airlines, including Norwegian, totalling €179 million (£152million) in fines.

Now the Spanish High Court in Madrid has decided to let Ryanair off, allowing the ruling to sit as a precautionary one.

It comes during a big week for air passenger rights, with the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee voting to boost the amount of free hand luggage passengers flying to or from member states can take.

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“Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee,” the committee decided. Before this decision becomes law, it must be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council.

The proposals have been met with fierce opposition from budget airlines and the Spanish Association of Airlines (ALA), which has criticised it and the Ministry’s fines.

The organisation argues that such measures limit consumer choice and disrupt fair competition in the EU’s single market. “It’s about offering different service models at different price points,” the association stated.

Ryanair claims that the legal ruling this week “upholds Ryanair’s right, under EU law, to offer customers the freedom to choose — and pay for — any bags they choose to bring onboard, in addition to the free under-seat bag all Ryanair passengers bring onboard free of charge.”

READ MORE: ‘Ryanair charged me £34 for bag – one minute later they wouldn’t let me take it on board’READ MORE: ‘Secret weapon’ lets you beat Ryanair and easyJet luggage rules

The Madrid Court noted that “the dispute between the parties is indeed complex, and it is not foreseeable that material harm would be caused to the general interest if these charges continue during the proceedings, particularly considering that such practice has been in place for years and that even the European Union is currently reformulating the current legal framework concerning whether such charges are permissible”.

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary said: “The Spanish High Court has rightly upheld EU law which protects the freedom of all EU airlines to set our own prices, a fundamental right guaranteed under EU Reg 1008/2008. The Court also upheld the right of all Spanish passengers to choose how much cabin baggage they wish to carry and pay for in addition to Ryanair’s ‘maleta gratis’, which is bigger than the EU’s prescribed sizes.

With over €10 billion invested in Spain, Ryanair contributes over €24 billion to Spain’s GDP, supports more than 10,000 direct jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers. Given the current political climate in Spain, Minister Bustinduy has far more pressing matters to address than interfering with low-cost air travel — an industry that is vital to Spain’s economy. We now call on Minister Bustinduy to show respect for EU law and the needs of Spain’s passengers and scrap his unlawful bag fines.”

Natalie Sadler, 43, was travelling from Magaluf, Majorca to Leeds Bradford Airport on May 20 when she was told by a member of staff at the gate to put her suitcase in the baggage sizer

A mum managed to board her Ryanair flight without paying the baggage charge by ditching her suitcase and using a bin bag, leaving a ‘jobsworth’ gobsmacked.

Natalie Sadler was preparing to board her flight from Palma de Majorca to Leeds Bradford on 20 May when she claims a staff member asked her to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. The 43-year-old caterer had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf, which entitled her to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm).

However, Natalie admitted that her 10kg suitcase was a ‘thumbnail’ too big with one of the wheels sticking out. She alleges that a Ryanair staff member then informed her she would need to pay €70 (£58) to take the bag on the flight.

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The mother-of-three claims the same Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the fee or she wouldn’t be allowed to board the aircraft. Natalie refused to pay the fee, citing the staff member’s ‘rude’ behaviour.

Thinking quickly, she approached a nearby bar at the boarding gate and requested a bin bag. Upon returning to the gate, she emptied all of her clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag and left her case behind.

A victorious Natalie boarded the plane with the bin bag and stowed it in the overhead locker, triggering applause of from onlookers. Footage shows Natalie discussing her experience and the blue bin bag containing her belongings.

In a dramatic turn at the boarding gate, Natalie was told by Ryanair staff that her suitcase was a mere thumbnail too wide. She recalled: “It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out, so I’m not going to dispute that.”

A Ryanair staff member then gave her an ultimatum: “She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, ‘if you don’t pay €70 (£58) you’ll get a new flight home. I’ll send the flight without you.’ It wasn’t the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude.

“But I said to my husband, ‘open the case’ and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, ‘have you got a bin bag?’ I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case.”

Determined to avoid the additional fee, Natalie flung it over her shoulder “like Santa” and told the Ryanair crew that they could keep her bag. “And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny,” she added.

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“Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. I couldn’t get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance.”

Natalie noted that she had used the same suitcase on a Ryanair flight before without any trouble. She claims she had flown out to Palma de Majorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems.

Natalie, who had received the brand new suitcase as a gift from her parents, was willing to part with it rather than pay the extra fee. She explained: “I was quite happy to forfeit the suitcase. It’s just a suitcase, it’s not the end of the world. I was like, ‘I’m not leaving all my clothes, what am I going to put it in?”.

Natalie decided not to pay the £58 fee for the oversized suitcase, considering it was only worth £45 new.

“It is absolutely ridiculous but I’m glad I stood my ground. There’s so many people who would have just gone, ‘get the card out, pay them’,” she concluded.

A Ryanair spokesperson clarified the airline’s bag policy: “Ryanair’s bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn’t fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. This passenger’s bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions.”