Ryanair passenger's clever DIY hack to dodge £500 luggage fees
When Neil Armstrong and his family of nine were preparing to fly with a budget carrier he was worried about potential charges over luggage size restrictions. The group had booked flights with Ryanair, who are well-known for their strict policy and fees when it comes to carry-on bags.
To avoid being landed with a hefty bill, the 54-year-old decided to take matters into his own hands. And armed with some cardboard and tape, he set about building his own version of the airline's sizer cage in just 15 minutes.
He then measured the whole family 's hand luggage in his makeshift sizer to make sure of no pricey airport mishaps.
Viral footage on social media platform Tik Tok, shows Neil hard at work creating the sizer with the exact dimensions of 40x20x25cm.
The dad-of-three admitted he had to change his own hand luggage backpack after realising it didn't fit into his man made box.
But he said he is no longer worried about a potential £510 fee, based on Ryanair's Euro 60 standard charge (£51).
The graphic designer joked that he felt 'like a Ryanair worker' when assessing the bags but encourages other customers of the budget airline to do the same. Daughter Imogen (Immy) Armstrong, 20, posted a TikTok video of Neil constructing the box and it's since been viewed more than 200,000 times.
Neil, from Maidstone, Kent, said: "The family had a bit of a snigger but they think it's a great idea. I'm proud of it. I've read that people have been charged so I wanted to be sure that our bags would fit. I didn't want to get caught out.
"You can get the tape measurer out but that's not really accurate and I saw the boxes at the airport but when you're there it's too late. I thought I'd make my own and all 10 of us can get our hand luggage and make sure it fits in that.
"I went and got some cardboard, followed the strict centimetre rule, stuck the cardboard together and made this box. The rest of the family only live streets away so I told them to come round when they have a minute and pop their bags in.
"It's not until you mock something up that you can actually visualise it (the Ryanair measuring box). I don't want to spend my holiday spending money on a bag. I realised the bag I was going to take wasn't going to fit so I've used another one. I felt like a Ryanair worker, saying to the kids 'no that won't do. Go and get another one (bag)'. I'd encourage other people to do it too so they're not caught out."
The family now feel confident they won't face any baggage charges on their upcoming flight from London Stansted to Tenerife. Imogen's TikTok video was captioned 'When your dad doesn't wanna pay Ryanair £70 so makes his own hand luggage check'.
One user commented: "A new level of airport dad has been unlocked."
A second said: "Honestly, great idea." A third joked: "Hey, I don't blame him! Work smarter not harder."
Ryanair have been contacted for comment.
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