A Ryanair passenger at Palma de Mallorca Airport was caught on video ripping the wheels off his carry-on bag to make it fit in the airline’s sizer and avoid fees, while fellow travelers applauded his sticking it to the man. But was he really sticking it to himself?
As the man named Daniel prepared to board his flight to Malaga, Spain he was told that his red suitcase exceeded the airline’s carry-on size limits. To bring it onboard, he would have to pay an additional US$76. He thought that was unreasonable – so he took matters into his own hands.
I told Ryanair it cost me €30 (£25.64/$32.68) ten years ago, and I wasn’t going to pay the €70 they were asking me for. It would have cost me more to check the case in than I spent on the flight.
He broke the wheels off his suitcase to avoid having to check it in with Ryanair, saving €70. How much did that suitcase cost him? pic.twitter.com/3jN7NeBr2c
— Fly Cheaply (@FlyCheaply) May 20, 2024
Assisted by a friend, he began removing the wheels from his suitcase – and the wheelless bag now met the airline’s size restrictions. Ryanair’s personal item restriction is 40 x 20 x 25cm and must fit under the seat in front of the passenger. Larger bags cannot exceed 55 x 40 x 20cm and fit in overhead bins.
Generally carry-on bags are sold based on a bag’s dimensions without the wheels. When you buy a 21″ bag, and your airline allows 21″ bags, it may be larger than 21″. Take the wheels off, and voila! However many airlines also have sizers that are slightly larger than their allowable dimensions. Of course if a bag fits exactly, it could get stuck. Once you get it in, you still have to get it out!
In fact, this seems to happen a lot!
@hotasfo_o dont die for easy jet #fyp #viral #plane #funny ♬ original sound – sam
I’ve been forced to gate check an item that fit in the sizer, and that the airline confirmed was carry-on eligible. Fortunately it wasn’t something I was charged for. Last year, when a gate agent working for Air Canada demanded that a reporter improperly gate check a bag, that passenger called the cops on the agent. Legend!
I was leaving Reykjavik, Iceland years ago with a carryon bag that I have used many times before. The agent said it didn’t fit, so I put it in the sizer and sat on it till it fit. Every airport has different sizers. Some have open sides and some are closed on all 4 sides, which makes it more difficult to make it fit, even if it is the appropriate size.
Given the cost of a carry-on at TJ Maxx, seems like a way to save money over paying to check it…and you get a new carry-on bag!
Of course, this only works if you have cheap luggage, like I do.
Good job
This is typical of Ryanair. A lot of their revenue comes from patrolling the preboarding areas looking for marks. Wheels on bags reduces the volume of the bag about 15% and the Ryanair carry on size spec is already SMALLER than nearly all the other carriers. That is why their airfares are seldom over $50.
Good job
This is typical of Ryanair. A lot of their revenue comes from patrolling the preboarding areas looking for marks. Wheels on bags reduces the volume of the bag and handle about 15% and the Ryanair carry on size spec is already SMALLER than nearly all the other carriers. That is why their airfares are seldom over $50.
Wonder why someone in the carry-on suitcase business doesn’t make a case with removeable wheels? They would sell like hotcakes and I would be first in line to purchase!
I despise Ryanair. Once was enough for me.
I remember once a gate keeper told me that my carry-on was too big and i would have to check it in (for free).
I wasn’t interested in doing that and told her that it was fine.
She made me put it in the checker and I let out a big grin… fit perfectly.
But I think she was wrong.
Even if it was a tiny bit bigger…
Gimmee a break…
As I have said before, friends don’t let friends fly Ryanair.
People have been doing this for years with Spirit and Frontier.
Funny, I recently flew Ryanair and it was a reasonable experience but my expectations were low. Yesterday I flew ITA and literally wished I had chosen Ryanair instead.
Why is abiding by rules so difficult for some people? Ryanair is a very punctual airline in my experience having flown with them at least a dozen times the past 2-3 years. You know what you get by paying for it up front.
I have gone to a large backpack instead of a hard sided roller bag to make sure I am within the normal size allowed of a carry on bag. It is also lighter.