An easyJet passenger 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 carefully checking her bag’s size beforehand.
After contacting the bag manufacturer to prove compliance with easyJet’s rules, the airline refunded the fee. However, Machin, a 59-year-old from Crystal Palace, London, is not alone in facing unjust fines for oversized cabin bags due to discrepancies in airport bag sizers, as highlighted by consumer group Which?.
Passengers of budget airlines are advised to double-check bag dimensions and be aware of the rules enforced at check-in desks and boarding gates. Machin, a freelance film and TV sales director, encountered the issue on a trip to Crete in April, where she paid for flights and cabin bags.
Despite her efforts to prove compliance, ground staff at Chania Airport insisted on payment, leading Machin to believe that the airport’s sizer was inaccurate. Following validation from the bag manufacturer, Cabin Max, easyJet refunded Machin’s fee.
Which? noted similar instances where airlines penalized passengers for minor size infractions, emphasizing the need for travelers to appeal if wrongly charged. EasyJet acknowledged Machin’s case and issued a refund, maintaining that their bag sizers are standardized and any issues are promptly addressed by ground crew.
In conclusion, travelers must be vigilant about bag sizes and challenge unfair fines, as airlines strive to maintain compliance with cabin bag regulations.