An easyJet traveler shared her experience of challenging the airline’s fine for an oversized bag. Louise Machin was surprised and puzzled when she was charged €58 (£51) upon returning from Chania Airport in Crete. Despite checking the dimensions in advance, the airline claimed her suitcase was too large.
After contacting the bag manufacturer to confirm compliance with easyJet’s rules, Machin received a refund. However, instances of passengers wrongly penalized for oversized cabin bags are not uncommon, according to consumer group Which?. Issues with airport bag sizers have led to travelers being caught off guard.
Machin, a freelance film and TV sales director, encountered the problem on a trip to Crete. Despite ensuring her bag’s size complied on the outbound journey, she faced a challenge during check-in for her return flight. Even after attempting to prove compliance, she was coerced into paying the fine to avoid travel disruption.
Upon verification from the bag manufacturer that her bag met regulations, Machin successfully obtained a refund from easyJet. Similar incidents of airlines wrongly penalizing passengers for minor size discrepancies have been reported, with Ryanair increasing incentives for catching oversized bags.
Which? recommends appealing if wrongly charged for an oversized bag at the gate. Despite easyJet claiming no faults with the sizers at Chania Airport, Machin’s refund was granted following her complaint. The airline assures standardized bag sizers at all airports and reviews customer feedback individually to address concerns.