Ryanair Passenger Slams £75 Fine for Carry-On He’d Already Paid For – Who’s Right?
Outrage Over Extra £75 Carry-On Charge
A Ryanair passenger is fuming after being slammed with a £75 fine for a carry-on suitcase he insisted he had already paid for. The drama unfolded at Belfast International Airport before his flight to Malaga, leaving the traveller venting his frustration on social media.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), @JeffreyPeel revealed how an airport agent refused to let him board without coughing up an extra £75, claiming his bag was over the size limit—despite having priority boarding and paying for the bag.
“Appalling” Airport Drama Sparks Applause
Jeffrey’s post went viral with over five million views. Alongside a photo of his luggage fitting into Ryanair’s official bag sizer, he described the ordeal:
“When I finally boarded the flight last night—after paying the £75 ‘fine’—I received a round of applause from my fellow passengers. But the whole experience was appalling. A Swissport check-in agent in a Grinch sweater deliberately caused chaos, delayed a delayed flight, called for police intervention, and made my wife and I wait until the end of the boarding process under police supervision. Absolutely reprehensible.”
He also said his complaint to Ryanair has so far gone unanswered despite thousands of views.
Ryanair’s Luggage Rules Explained
- Passengers with regular tickets can bring one small bag onboard free, which must fit under the seat.
- Priority boarding passengers may also bring a second 10kg cabin bag, which must fit into the overhead locker and measure no more than 55 x 40 x 20cm, including wheels and handles.
- Oversized bags brought to the gate can incur charges up to £75 if placed in the hold.
Some X users sided with Ryanair, pointing out that Jeffrey’s bag handle appeared to push past the size limits, while others slammed the whole system as a “complete scam.”
Ryanair Responds & More Passenger Complaints
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “This passenger booked a Regular Fare ticket, allowing a small personal bag and a 10kg cabin bag. Since his bag exceeded the permitted size, the gate agent correctly applied the £75 gate baggage fee.”
The airline’s strict luggage rules have long caught travellers out. A London woman, Kay, recently vowed never to fly Ryanair again after being charged £62 for her slightly oversize cabin bag at Dublin airport.
Ryanair even boosted the bonuses for staff who spot oversized bags at the gate, intensifying the hunt for rule-breakers.
Is Ryanair just protecting its strict rules, or are travellers getting fleeced? What do you think—fair fine or airport rip-off?
