Dad rages after being charged £144 by easyJet for bag that was 1cm too big
easyJet infuriate family after charging nearly £150 for baggage
PA
A father-of-two was left shocked and angry after easyJet charged him and his family £144 in fees for their hand luggage, because the bags were ‘1cm too big’.
Nick Proctor, 44, was travelling on an all-inclusive family holiday to Rhodes with his wife and two children when they were struck with the extra costs at the airport.
He claims no-one questioned the size of the luggage as they passed through the check-in desk at Bristol Airport, but the family were charged at the gate when they were made to check the size of their bags in easyJet’s luggage sizer.
Proctor said of the incident: "We took four bags on the plane, all with the intention of them going on the plane whether they went under the seat or in the overhead locker.
Nick Proctor and his family flew from Bristol Airport to Rhodes
PA
"I'm a travel writer so I fly frequently and have used these bags on nine other occasions before and never had this issue.
"We got stopped at the boarding gate where we could literally see the plane [we were going to board].
"The wheels were one centimetre too big to fit in the checker.
"They were really strict and because the bag didn't go in the sizer, that was it. We had to pay, there was no other option."
After paying the fine, Proctor’s bags were taken and stowed underneath the aircraft.
The family claims the ordeal “took the edge off the holiday”, causing “tension” for the couple.
Upon returning to the UK, Nick and his family were not questioned on the size of their luggage from Rhodes to Bristol Airport, also flying with easyJet.
They filed a complaint, stating: "If I don't receive my refund I won't be flying easyJet again, just out of principle."
Stock image of a child pulling a suitcase through Heathrow Airport
PA
When filing the complaint, Proctor was told by easyJet to submit proof of payment of the excess charges, and photos of his luggage next to a tape measure.
An easyJet spokesperson said: "We clearly inform customers of their bag allowance and bag dimensions when booking, via email before they travel and it is also clearly displayed on boarding passes.
"Unfortunately Mr Proctor's bags on this occasion were not within the allowance he had booked and so in line with our policy and in fairness to other customers who book to bring larger bags they were asked to pay for these at the airport.
"We are also contacting Mr Proctor to understand more about his experience."