Delayed flight due to so many people being charged for luggage

soolin

Just be warned.

We went through Fuerteventura airport yesterday and noticed at bag drop the queue next to us (Ryanair) was getting people to unpack suitcases and remove items due to weight.

However when we went to board the plane with easyjet we were delayed as there was a check immediately before boarding and person after person was being refused and asked to pay extra for either over size cabin bags or an extra bag. We were fine as we use hold luggage , but there were queues of people trying to force small bags and rucksacks in the sizer. Many were arguing they were allowed to carry the same bag on the way out which is now suddenly too big, but having to pay up nonetheless, they were being very strict, almost like a work to rule.

So double check your cabin bags!

We didn't actually manage to get on the plane until a few minutes past our departure time.

TELLIT01

"They were being very strict, almost like a work to rule".  I'm delighted to see the size rules on hand luggage being rigidly enforced for a change.  I'm sick of sticking to the rules and seeing others with hand luggage they can barely lift or force into the overhead lockers.

Ryanair has a reputation for being strict on size and weight limits.

Alan_Bowen

I suspect the staff are on commission so it pays to be strict!

soolin

We travel a lot and usually use Easyjet and we know they can often be strict, this seemed almost orchestrated , the guys in hi vis (airport staff?) kept coming up and waving their hands at them to hurry them up, but every bag that was larger than a handbag went in the sizer.

Further delayed of course by everyone arguing that a handbag isn't a 'second' bit of baggage or pretending they had no money to pay and being told they weren't boarding without paying or making some other arrangement for their unwanted baggage. 

katejo

soolin said:

Just be warned.

We went through Fuerteventura airport yesterday and noticed at bag drop the queue next to us (Ryanair) was getting people to unpack suitcases and remove items due to weight.

However when we went to board the plane with easyjet we were delayed as there was a check immediately before boarding and person after person was being refused and asked to pay extra for either over size cabin bags or an extra bag. We were fine as we use hold luggage , but there were queues of people trying to force small bags and rucksacks in the sizer. Many were arguing they were allowed to carry the same bag on the way out which is now suddenly too big, but having to pay up nonetheless, they were being very strict, almost like a work to rule.

So double check your cabin bags!

We didn't actually manage to get on the plane until a few minutes past our departure time.

I recently flew back from Italy with Easyjet and saw a couple being told that they couldn't take their bag on because they hadn't  paid for speedy boarding so weren't allowed as big a case in the cabin. They were sent to pay a supplement. I only ever take a small daysac (plus hold luggage).

tightauldgit

soolin said:

Just be warned.

We went through Fuerteventura airport yesterday and noticed at bag drop the queue next to us (Ryanair) was getting people to unpack suitcases and remove items due to weight.

However when we went to board the plane with easyjet we were delayed as there was a check immediately before boarding and person after person was being refused and asked to pay extra for either over size cabin bags or an extra bag. We were fine as we use hold luggage , but there were queues of people trying to force small bags and rucksacks in the sizer. Many were arguing they were allowed to carry the same bag on the way out which is now suddenly too big, but having to pay up nonetheless, they were being very strict, almost like a work to rule.

So double check your cabin bags!

We didn't actually manage to get on the plane until a few minutes past our departure time.

Absolutely does my box in when people pull this tantrum stuff at the gate. The rules are clear and published. Matters not a jot that you got away with it when you flew out - it's like arguing with a police officer ticketing you for doing 90 on the M6 that you shouldn't have to pay because you did 100 on it yesterday and didn't get a ticket! All you are doing is holding other people up with your petulance. 

I think with Easyjet they just do a random check like this every so often - I've had it a few times over the years - so I'm not sure if it would be a new normal but Ryanair have been pretty hot on people bringing two bags or big bags without having paid the extra for it the last couple of times I've flown.  

soolin

I’m really not averse to these checks, some people do try to really push the rules, an extra tiny handbag maybe, but not an oversized case plus a large rucksack and a carrier bag. 

I did once go through Dublin airport with Ryanair, I had a paper carrier bag from the Guinness factory with a couple of t shirts in it, and a small handbag and they wouldn’t let me through, however I could put the handbag in the paper carrier bag and that was fine. 

thegreenone

If we are going hand luggage only, I always make sure there is enough room to stuff my little cross-body bag into it.  Tight squeeze sometimes!  This contains my purse, phone, kindle and a bottle of water.  I decant the little bag on board to have with me and the rucksack goes up top.  It's not difficult, is it?

[Deleted User]

TELLIT01 said:

"They were being very strict, almost like a work to rule".  I'm delighted to see the size rules on hand luggage being rigidly enforced for a change.  I'm sick of sticking to the rules and seeing others with hand luggage they can barely lift or force into the overhead lockers.

Ryanair has a reputation for being strict on size and weight limits.

Often they run a scam where the size checking device is defective. Rounded corners are the most common method. Catches a lot of people out.

soolin

[Deleted User] said:

TELLIT01 said:

"They were being very strict, almost like a work to rule".  I'm delighted to see the size rules on hand luggage being rigidly enforced for a change.  I'm sick of sticking to the rules and seeing others with hand luggage they can barely lift or force into the overhead lockers.

Ryanair has a reputation for being strict on size and weight limits.

Often they run a scam where the size checking device is defective. Rounded corners are the most common method. Catches a lot of people out.

Surely though if airline staff are using basically their own sizing boxes it would be widely known and warned about in the press?

The Easyjet one I’m referring to was the normal double sided ones they have at all airports. A surprisingly large amount of people claimed they were ‘told’ or have always been allowed to use the larger ‘extra case size’ side of the stand and argue against trying their bags in the smaller under the seat size. A couple of guys even demanded to see someone as they were allegedly being picked on as they always travelled with a larger size case on a standard bag under the seat ticket and had never been charged before. Obviously the size is actually shown on the boarding cards  and they were basically told to pay up or miss the plane and wait to see ‘someone’ if they wanted to argue about it. 

maman

The long and the short (excuse pun 😉) of it IMO is that airlines make money from charging for baggage.

In this case it's last minute  (sorry puns seem prolific today! 🤣) but it happens on every trip. I have a range of bags suitable for all airlines. Recently, it was cheaper to buy a new bag for Aer Lingus domestic travel than pay to take my smallest suitcase.

My bugbear is that it's OK to take duty free/airport purchases on board in a carrier bag but not one of your own. 🤔