‘Hero’ steps in to pay for ‘distressed’ mother’s bag after Ryanair staff deem it too big
A man has been called a “hero” after stepping in to pay excess baggage charges on behalf of a “distressed” mother of three.
The good Samaritan, who is yet to be identified, quietly stepped in and paid the extra £50 when Ryanair deemed the woman’s bag too big to travel in the cabin.
The incident occurred at Ibiza airport before a Ryanair flight back to London Stansted.
Another passenger filmed the act of kindness and posted the footage on social media, alongside the caption: “Well done to this young hero for paying the ridiculous Ryanair baggage charges for a distressed mother travelling with three kids (who wasn't getting any leniency from ground staff).”
Twitter user @CoolCalmPoch added that he thought the airline could have been more lenient in this instance.
Well done to this young hero for paying the ridiculous Ryanair baggage charges for a distressed mother travelling with 3 kids (who wasn’t getting any leniency from ground staff). The flight from Ibiza to Stansted was half empty, not sure what difference a few cm would make. pic.twitter.com/RosvQKh8tw
— We are one (@CoolCalmPoch) October 17, 2020
“The flight from Ibiza to Stansted was half empty, not sure what difference a few cm would make,” he said.
In the video, the woman is audibly tearful while the young man pays the fee, and can be seen trying to keep two of her children in check while they run around the terminal.
“Thank you so much,” she is heard saying, while he responds, “It’s alright, I’ll pay for you.”
Another man can be heard asking if the airline has recently changed the measurements in its baggage policy.
“No idea who he is,” @CoolCalmPoch wrote of the young man, “kept himself to himself and acted honourably and discreetly without a fuss.”
Ryanair’s strict baggage policy stipulates that cabin bags must be no larger than 55 x 40 x 20cm with a maximum weight of 10kg.
Anyone found carrying a bag outside those restrictions must pay a £50 on-the-spot charge at the airport for the bag to be put in the hold instead.
The rules changed in 2018, enabling only those who have paid extra for priority boarding to take on a cabin bag of the above size, in addition to one small bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.
Those who don’t pay for priority boarding or extra hold luggage may only take one bag measuring 40cm x 20cm x 25cm onboard.
The Independent has approached Ryanair for comment.
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