An easyJet passenger shared her experience of challenging the airline’s fine for an oversized bag. Louise Machin was surprised and puzzled when easyJet imposed a €58 (£51) charge on her return from Chania Airport in Crete, citing her suitcase as too large, despite her prior careful dimension checks.
After contacting the bag manufacturer, easyJet refunded the fee upon verification that her bag met the airline’s specifications. However, Ms. Machin, 59, 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?.
Travelers on budget airlines have learned to double-check bag dimensions allowed onboard. While airports typically provide devices at check-in desks or boarding gates to enforce the rules, issues with official bag sizers persist.
Ms. Machin, a freelance film and TV sales director, encountered the issue on a trip to Crete in April. Despite thorough checks, ground staff at Chania Airport challenged her on the return journey, leading to a confrontational situation where she had to pay to board the flight.
Subsequently, Ms. Machin sought confirmation from the bag manufacturer, Cabin Max, that her bag adhered to easyJet’s guidelines. Armed with this validation, she successfully secured a refund from easyJet.
Which? noted previous instances of Cabin Max customers facing fines for compliant bags due to flawed sizers. The organization advises passengers wrongly charged to appeal if confident in their bag’s size compliance.
Despite easyJet claiming no faults in Chania Airport’s sizers, they acknowledged Ms. Machin’s complaint and issued a refund, underscoring their commitment to address customer feedback on a case-by-case basis.