Travellers are being advised to carefully examine the technical details of Ryanair’s exception clauses after a mother was left to pay £55 when airport staff took issue with her daughter’s hand luggage.
Luana Botas was returning home following a six-day visit to relatives when officials at Budapest Airport flagged her child’s rigid suitcase.
The 43-year-old professional was instructed to place her seven-year-old’s hardshell case into the measuring device, and was subsequently required to pay £55 when the bag failed to meet size requirements.
Yet the project manager highlighted that Ryanair’s own website indicates that children’s Trunki or Trunki-style cases may surpass the airline’s standard dimensions while still being permitted in the cabin.
As detailed on their site, children between two and 11 years old are allowed one Trunki case, which can exceed the small bag measurements of 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Brands with comparable proportions are also accepted on board.
The mother of one confirmed her daughter Maia Robinson was transporting a case measuring 48 x 26 x 33 cm, believing it would qualify under the exemption.
Ryanair clarified that children can substitute their personal carry-on with one Trunki case or another brand of similar size, which may surpass typical baggage restrictions.
However, the airline maintained that Luana’s luggage at 48 x 33 x 26 cm fell outside Trunki dimensions at 46 x 20 x 31 cm, defending their decision to apply the charge.
The Birmingham resident recounted how the family encountered no difficulties passing through Birmingham Airport, calling the fee humiliating and degrading.
She described going through security at Birmingham without any objections being raised, with everything proceeding smoothly. The family had two backpacks that were practically identical in size.
On Ryanair’s website, a section specifies that children’s luggage such as Trunki and comparable brands are excluded from the strict limit, she noted. During the boarding process at Budapest, a staff member indicated for her to place her daughter’s case in the measuring frame.
Her own bag passed inspection despite being the same dimensions. Her daughter’s rigid case only went halfway into the device and would not compress further due to its hardshell construction. The official then demanded payment of the supplement.
She attempted to explain that she had experienced no problems travelling from Birmingham to Budapest and that a Trunki is permitted, but could not get through to the staff member as boarding was nearly finished. When she challenged whether the charge would be applied despite her referencing company policy, she was told a passport was required.
Luana felt the family was singled out for financial reasons, describing the penalty as unjust. The experience of paying for an exempt service was mortifying and humiliating. She was genuinely shocked by the incident, as the case was simply a small pull-along for her child’s enjoyment.
The online listing described it as under-seat cabin approved, yet the airline’s policy creating an exemption was still being ignored. She felt targeted since no other passengers were asked to use the measuring device, and the situation appeared deliberate when the flight had generated no additional revenue.
The issue transcends the £55 amount and concerns a system that exploits customers.
A Ryanair representative stated that the passenger’s bag exceeded the permitted dimensions and the gate agent at Budapest Airport correctly applied the standard fee.