A sunseeker was fined during a budget flight over their suitcase after forgetting to check one part of their bag. Passenger Emily Sleight was set to fly from Liverpool Airport to Barcelona and thought she had ticked off the rules around hand baggage. However the £50 return flights ended up with additional charges as she had not considered the wheels and handles when she checked the size of her bag.
She told Liverpool Echo: “If done correctly, budget airlines like Ryanair , easyJet, TUI and Jet2 can be incredibly cost-effective, often cheaper than a train ticket from the North West of England. But they also come with additional charges that can quickly accumulate if you're not vigilant. “A few years ago, I was unfortunate enough to discover this when I thought I'd snagged £50 return flights from Liverpool Airport to Barcelona with a carry-on case.
Prior to my trip, I checked the baggage size regulations and packed my belongings confidently, thinking everything was in order - unaware that I'd made a novice mistake. “Although my actual cabin bag met the required dimensions, what I hadn't taken into account were the wheels and handle. Consequently, I was charged for both outbound and return flights - needless to say, it significantly dented the modest holiday budget I had set aside.
“I was disappointed, but knowing there was nothing I could do at the boarding gate, I had no choice but to pay up. Since the incident, I've never repeated the same error, and now I'm extra c.