Forced To Pay $62 For Carry-On That Fit The Sizer—Millions Watch Passenger’s Showdown With Airline Over ‘Absurd’ Policy – View from the Wing

A 27-year-old flying from Manchester Airport in the U.K. to Lisbon was wrongfully charged $62 (£48) for a carry-on bag even though it fit in his airline’s baggage sizer at the gate. He recorded video about the incident that’s been viewed over 5 million times.

In it, he shows that his black carry-on bag slid smoothly into the sizer. Yet an employee insisted on the charge anyway. “£48 for that is ridiculous,” he’s heard saying in his video. An employee insisted the bag didn’t qualify as a free carry-on, though, since it should “freefall” into the sizer without resistance.

In retaliation for the pushback, the staffer reportedly threatened to terminate the passenger’s boarding pass if he didn’t pay up – and delete the video. He paid, and deleted much of his recording but some clips remained.

@jakehughesss easyjet staff made me delete all of this footage or i wasnt allowed to board… loll #viral ♬ original sound – Jake Hughes

While the airline pays out commission to flight attendants for onboard sales, I’m not familiar with gate agents receiving a part of bag fees collected, though many viewers wonder if that’s what’s going on here.

According to easyJet,

We are investigating with our ground handling provider at Manchester airport to understand why Mr Hughes was charged for his bag which appears to be in line with his allowance, and we have been in touch with him to refund the charge.

Since easyJet makes its money more on fees than fares, they’re known to be a stickler for carry-on bags. Here’s a man who had to prove his bag fit in the sizer at the gate. It barely fit, and he shoved it in so hard, it got stuck for good.

@hotasfo_o dont die for easy jet #fyp #viral #plane #funny ♬ original sound – sam

I’ve had my own run-in with an American Airlines gate agent who demanded I check something that fit in the sizer. I wish I’d had the same gusto as one journalist who called the police on an aggressive gate agent demanding he check his carry-on that fit.

Because it’s Europe, airlines might soon be required to transport all carry-on bags free as the EU considers declaring cabin baggage a human right. Airlines in Europe are often far stricter with carry-ons than the U.S., even the major legacy carriers, enforcing weight limits not just limits on size. And that, to me, is indeed a human rights violation.