A passenger claims she was charged for her carry-on bag while boarding a Ryanair flight – while another woman with the exact same bag wasn’t. That other woman? She was “gorgeous.”

The woman was flying from Leeds in the U.K. to Alicante, Spain. Her bag was flagged as too big, though she says she’s been traveling with it for ten years. It probably was too big, at least for Ryanair. It’s also probably true she’s gotten away with it before.

I’m absolutely disgusted with Ryanair! I’ve just been held up for 20 minutes because they said my cabin bag was too big and I must pay an EXTRA £75 for it to go in the hold. Alternatively I can leave it and forfeit the bag and its contents!

It’s funny (not funny) how other bags that are exactly the same were allowed through without comment. It’s a good job I took the photo of this (gorgeous) girl pushing her case into the box and being allowed through. Mine is the pink case and I see no difference whatsoever. I’m obviously not young or good-looking enough!!!!!

Eventually (using the photographic evidence) I was allowed through.

I’m stressed to high-hell and hope I can calm down and get into holiday mode before we land

Now, this woman thinks she was flagged because as an older woman she’d be more likely to be compliant although that stereotype hardly resonates universally. Maybe the other woman was simply missed – like she had been in the past? I’d think that if looks had been the issue, the gate agent would have wanted to slow them down for the interaction? What’s the upside of just waving them through?

Call it pretty privilege, appearance advantage, beauty bias or the glamour gap though, research definitely shows a “Beauty Premium” in wages. Attractive people tend to earn more. Studies indicate that attractive workers can earn up to 10-15% more than their less attractive counterparts.

Similarly, less attractive individuals often face an earnings penalty, with some studies suggesting a 5-10% decrease in earnings compared to average-looking workers.

Attractive individuals are also more likely to be hired and promoted. In one study, resumes with photos of attractive individuals received 36% more callbacks than resumes with no photo or with photos of less attractive people. Attractive people are also more likely to be promoted within companies, even when controlling for other factors such as job performance and education.

Attractiveness leads people to attribute positive traits like intelligence, competence, and trustworthiness and are perceived as more confident and charismatic. Studies suggest that attractive defendants are 22% less likely to be convicted and, if convicted, often receive lighter sentences.

And, I guess, there’s an attractiveness premium for passengers now, too?

(HT: Live and Let’s Fly)