Ryanair has been criticized for its strict baggage policies once again after a journalist was charged £50 for carrying a water bottle. Ruby Flanagan, a journalist, was stopped at the gate during her return flight from Dublin to Stansted on February 4th. Despite having a backpack that fit within Ryanair's size restrictions, she was instructed to put her water bottle inside her bag. When she struggled to fit the bottle, she was then told that her bag was too big and she had to pay a fee to board the flight.
If you've ever flown with Ryanair , you'll be well acquainted with the drill - cheap flights, strict baggage rules and the constant fear of being hit with a surprise charge at the gate. The airline has revolutionised budget travel, offering European flights for less than the price of a night out. However, as many travellers have discovered, these budget-friendly fares can quickly balloon due to Ryanair 's notorious additional fees.
We all know someone who has fallen foul of Ryanair's luggage policy, whether it's an unsuspecting friend slapped with a hefty fee at the boarding gate or a family member frantically repacking their suitcase in the middle of the airport. Given the current cost of living crisis, more people are attempting to squeeze everything into their free 'small bag' allowance to avoid expensive extras wherever possible. But the challenge is ensuring that bag complies with Ryanair's strict 40 x 20 x 25cm dimensions - or face the dreaded yellow sticker of shame and an unexpected fee. This was exactly the situation journalist Ruby Flanagan found herself in during a recent trip through Dublin Airport. Unlike most passengers penalised for oversized luggage, Ruby's fee wasn't due to an extra bag, an overstuffed backpack or a suitcase that wouldn't fit in the sizer. In a baffling turn of events, she was charged £50 by Ryanair for carrying a water bottle, leading to an exasperating encounter that showcased the airline's stringent baggage policies, reports Belfast Live. A quick scroll through the gripes aired across social media would show numerous fliers sharing their own run-ins with Ryanair's luggage levy. For a brief sojourn in Ireland's lively capital to reconnect with friends, she opted for just a backpack, expecting no fuss for such a compact cargo. Going for the 'non-priority' fare granted her just one 'small' bag fitting within 40 x 20 x 25cm under the seat, and at £35.86 (€43) for a return journey, it looked like quite the bargain. 'Last year, I snagged a backpack from Amazon that perfectly matched the airline's baggage size requirements and it's been my trusty travel companion on numerous journeys without any hitches,' she said. 'Confidently, I planned to use it once more. 'On Saturday, February 1, at the crack of dawn, 5.30am, I breezed through Stansted Airport as the Ryanair gate staff scanned my boarding pass without a glitch. With my backpack secured and water bottle hitched to the top handle, I made my way to the flight, oblivious to the ordeal that awaited me just three days later. 'Returning from Dublin with a throat so sore I sounded like a lifelong smoker, I arrived at the gate for my flight back to Stansted at 12.05pm. The gate had closed at 11.30am, but with just an aisle seat and my backpack, I lingered until about 20 past before heading through. 'Passport and boarding pass in hand, I was stopped in my tracks by a tap on the shoulder. 'You need to put your bag in here,' instructed a Ryanair employee, gesturing towards the sizing box. 'Complying, I managed to fit the bag with a gentle push. As I slung it back over my shoulder, the staff member sternly indicated my water bottle, now strapped across my body, and declared: 'That will need to go in the bag.' 'In a raspy voice, I queried if such a step was really necessary, given that it hadn't been required on my incoming flight. The crew member explained firmly that all extras must be stashed inside my bag when boarding the flight and directed me back to the departure area. 'Feeling increasingly flustered, I clumsily tried to cram the 750ml metal water bottle into my already bulging luggage. I was but one among several passengers stopped by the Ryanair staff, all of us scrambling to reorganise our belongings. 'After rearranging contents and pushing the bottle in, my bag sported an awkward bulge as the zip strained to remain sealed. Reapproaching the gate, I had to rescan my boarding pass only to be halted once more by a staff member who bluntly stated, 'That bag is too big. You'll need to go over there and pay to get on the flight.' 'Baffled, I questioned why the water bottle couldn't just travel in my hand as before. 'I was starting to feel quite the troublesome flyer. In response, I received a lecture on how the water bottle had to fit inside the bag; otherwise, it counted as a 'second bag', something not covered by my ticket type. \Confounded, I reiterated my point, stressing the words 'water bottle'. 'The bemusement hit me like a train as I witnessed fellow travellers with laptops, Burger King feasts, and snuggly travel pillows glide through without any fuss.
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