People praise 'genius' hack to avoid paying for extra luggage

Daily Mail​

19-06-2025

A new travel hack for those looking to avoid splashing out on cabin baggage fees when flying is going viral online.
And all that's needed is a common travel accessory.
In a video on TikTok, Nina Edwine (@nina_edwine) shared her ingenious trick to stuff an empty neck pillow with items that would otherwise force her to pay for additional baggage.
And despite the small size of the travel pillow, Nina was able to pack in 10 items of clothing, including a bra, tops and a dress.
The video, captioned 'rat technique to avoid paying €50 for cabin baggage', has already been viewed 2.6 million times on TikTok.
It's also attracted almost 2,000 comments.
The tactic has been dubbed both 'genius' and 'legendary' by those users of the video-sharing app.
However, some people are unsure whether this will actually work.
'I was traveling with Ryanair last Thursday and if you only have a small luggage you can't have nothing else,' wrote @kot_w_glowie1.
'The lady by the gate told EVERYONE to put the pillow in their bag or throw them away.'
Another user, who claimed to work at an airport, said: 'As a gate agent, we still notice and we'll still charge you that.'
Sharanjit Shokar said that they 'did this with a normal pillow and Ryanair staff at Marrakesh were not having it'.
Others joked that Nina Edwine was giving away a secret that low-cost airlines will now clamp down on.
'You lot are exposing this and when we get to the gate about to hop on a Ryanair flight, they will want to check everything,' wrote @kima_ziora.
Some users shared their own tips for avoiding airline fees.
'Buy any item at duty free get a bag to go and you can put your clothes etc in that bag,' read one comment, with another user replying that they've 'done this so many times, works every time'.
Another tip was to use 'one of those Uniqlo cross body bags', and to 'wear it under your coat with a scarf round your neck to disguise the strap'.
A landmark court ruling in Spain last month decided that hand luggage is an essential part of air travel and should not be subject to extra fees.
The passenger involved in the case will be reimbursed £124 (€147) by Ryanair for hand luggage costs charged on five flights between 2019 and 2024 following the judgment.
But an aviation legal expert warned that as a result of the case, budget airlines could charge higher 'all inclusive' fares.