Ryanair Charges Man £75 for ‘Stiff Wheel’ on Suitcase
Austin Price, a holidaymaker from Plymouth, criticized Ryanair for charging him £75 due to a ‘stiff wheel’ on his suitcase. The incident occurred at Bristol Airport as he was preparing to fly to Krakow, Poland, on October 4. Despite his luggage fitting in the ‘if it fits, it flies’ measuring stand, the wonky and stiff wheels caused an issue. A Ryanair staff member insisted on the payment, adding to the priority boarding fee already paid for the 10kg bag.
Expressing his frustration online, Austin questioned the reason for the excessive charge for a suitcase that clearly fitted the dimensions. While his suitcase fit in terms of height and width, the protruding wheels led to the additional charge. Ryanair’s guidelines state that 10kg bags must adhere to specific dimensions, which Austin’s seemingly exceeded.
Blaming the staff member for enforcing the policy strictly, Austin labelled it as an unnecessary act. Despite his attempts to reason with the employee, he was required to pay the fine. Displeased with the customer service, Austin lodged a complaint with Ryanair, seeking a refund. However, the response he received reiterated the necessity of the fee payment.
This incident has sparked discussions on social media, with many travellers sharing similar experiences of unexpected charges for luggage. The debate highlights the need for clear and consistent enforcement of airline policies to ensure a fair and transparent travel experience for passengers.