Ryanair Passenger Slammed with £75 Carry-On Fine He Already Paid For – Who’s Right?
Passenger Outraged Over Surprise £75 Carry-On Charge
A Ryanair flyer was left fuming after being hit with a £75 fine for a carry-on bag he insists he had already paid for. The drama kicked off at Belfast International Airport before his flight to Malaga.
Jeffrey Peel took to X (formerly Twitter) to spill the beans. He said an airport agent refused to let him board unless he coughed up another £75—claiming his bag was too big despite having priority boarding and already paying for it.
“Appalling” Airport Chaos Goes Viral
Jeffrey’s rant exploded online, racking up over five million views. Alongside a snap of his suitcase fitting snugly inside Ryanair’s official sizer, he blasted the entire ordeal:
“When I finally boarded last night—after forking out the £75 ‘fine’—I got a round of applause from fellow passengers. But the experience was absolutely appalling. A Swissport agent in a Grinch sweater deliberately caused chaos, delayed a flight already late, called police, and forced me and my wife to wait till the end under police watch. Simply reprehensible.”
Jeffrey also revealed Ryanair has ignored his complaint despite thousands engaging with his story.
Inside Ryanair’s Tough Luggage Rules
- Standard ticket holders get one small bag free, which must fit under the seat.
- Priority boarding lets you bring a second cabin bag weighing up to 10kg, max size 55 x 40 x 20cm (including wheels and handles), to fit in overhead lockers.
- Bags deemed oversized at the gate face a hefty £75 fee if put in the hold.
Online, opinions split. Some users backed Ryanair, pointing out Jeffrey’s bag handle seemed to exceed size limits. Others slammed the system as a “complete scam.”
Ryanair Hits Back Amid Growing Passenger Rants
A Ryanair spokesperson defended the fine: “This passenger booked a Regular Fare ticket, allowing a small personal bag and a 10kg cabin bag. Since his bag exceeded the allowed size, the gate agent correctly applied the £75 gate baggage fee.”
The airline’s strict carry-on rules have angered many. Just last month, a woman named Kay vowed never to fly Ryanair again after she was slapped with a £62 charge for a slightly oversize cabin bag at Dublin Airport.
Ryanair even boosted staff bonuses for spotting oversized bags at the gate—making the hunt for offenders fiercer than ever.
So, is Ryanair justified in enforcing its rules—or are passengers being ripped off? What do you think? Fair fine or nasty airport money grab?
