Had to pay extra for the straps
As reported by the Polish media, the incident occurred at Krakow airport before the flight to Cagliari in Sardinia.
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The passenger shared on social media that airline staff were very thoroughly checking carry-on luggage, and several passengers faced additional fees.
According to her, problems also arose because of her backpack.
“The staff member stated that the backpack straps were sticking out beyond the measuring device. We paid for extra baggage because otherwise we were threatened that we would not be allowed to board the flight,” the passenger said.
In the photo she shared, it can be seen that the backpack itself fits into the airline’s measuring device, but the straps stick out a bit.
There are many similar stories
The woman shared her story on social media, and her post quickly attracted a lot of attention. Other passengers’ comments soon appeared under the post.
Some said they had to pay extra because of protruding backpack pockets, others because of straps sticking out by just a few millimeters. Some claimed to have deliberately bought backpacks with removable straps or to tape them with adhesive tape just before the check.
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Strict Ryanair carry-on baggage control is not new. Recently, airline CEO Michael O’Leary announced that the company intends to increase bonuses for employees who detect carry-on baggage that does not meet the specified dimensions.
15min reported that currently employees receive a bonus of 2.50 euros for each such case, and in the future it should increase to about 3.50 euros. Passengers whose baggage does not comply with the rules continue to face an additional fee of up to 75 euros.
An investigation has been launched
Due to increasing passenger complaints, the Polish Competition and Consumer Protection Authority has launched an explanatory investigation into the carry-on baggage inspection procedures applied by Ryanair and Wizz Air.
The institution is assessing whether the baggage measurement procedure and additional fees applied to passengers comply with consumer protection requirements.
One of the most common passenger complaints is that baggage is checked very hastily, so people do not have a real opportunity to challenge the staff’s decisions.
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If violations are found during the investigation, the airlines could face sanctions.
