Luana Botas, a 43-year-old project manager from Birmingham, recounts a frustrating experience with Ryanair that left her feeling humiliated. On April 3, after a six-day family visit, Luana and her seven-year-old daughter Maia were preparing to board their flight from Budapest Airport back to Birmingham. However, the boarding process took an unexpected turn when airline staff requested that Maia’s hardshell suitcase be measured against their hand luggage size restrictions.
Despite Ryanair’s website stating that children aged 2 to 11 are allowed one Trunki or “Trunki-style” suitcase—ride-on cases designed for toddlers which can exceed standard size limits—Luana was asked to pay a £55 fee because Maia’s suitcase was deemed too large. Maia’s bag measured 48 x 26 x 33 cm, and Ryanair contended this exceeded their permitted dimensions for Trunki cases, which are 46 x 20 x 31 cm.
Luana insists that the suitcase fit the description of a Trunki-style bag and that she encountered no issues when traveling through Birmingham Airport earlier. “We had two backpacks, nearly the same size, and mine was fine,” she said. “At Budapest, the gate staff insisted the daughter’s suitcase go into the sizer, but it only fit halfway because of its hard shell. When I tried to explain the policy from their website, it was clear the agent was unwilling to reconsider.”
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She describes the situation as both “embarrassing and humiliating,” not just because of the unexpected charge but because she believes the fee contradicted Ryanair’s own luggage allowance policies. “I was shocked to be charged for a case that should have been exempt under their rules,” Luana added.
Ryanair responded by confirming the charge was standard procedure. A spokesperson said, “This passenger’s bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they were correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee (£55) by the gate agent at Budapest Airport.”
Luana’s experience has sparked discussion on the clarity and enforcement of airline luggage policies, highlighting how slight differences in measurements and interpretations can lead to stressful situations for passengers, especially families traveling with young children.