Latest news with #NatalieSadler
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Mother-of-three, 43, reveals interesting way she escaped paying Ryanair's £59 luggage charge
A mother-of-three has revealed the nifty way she dodged Ryanair's £59 luggage charge when she returned from a sunny getaway. The additional charges faced by travellers when they go on holiday is often a point of contention. For Natalie Sadler, 43, all was well when she boarded her flight from Leeds to Palma de Mallorca with her 10kg suitcase. But on her return, despite having purchased priority boarding for the holiday, she encountered issues on May 20. Priority boarding meant she was entitled to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm). Although there were no issues with the suitcase on departure, when she was asked by Ryainair staff to place it in the baggage sizer, it was 'a thumbnail' too big with one of its wheels left dangling out. The mother-of-three was told she would have to pay €70 (£59) to board the aircraft with her luggage. Dubbing the policy 'absolutely ridiculous', Natalie was keen to stand her ground, refusing to hand over the money as she claimed a staff member was rude. With her sharp mindset, she marched towards a bar near to the boarding gate and asked them for an item which would help her cheat the system. Emptying her newly purchased case, she piled all the items into the bin bag, emerging victorious as she pushed it into the overhead locker. The adamant traveller said it wasn't about the money, but 'the principle' as the member of staff had been 'so rude'. She said: 'I opened the case at the door for boarding and she (the Ryanair staff member) was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case. 'I flung it over my shoulder like Santa and I just went 'there you go, you can keep that. And off I went onto the plane.' Recalling how passengers clapped as she boarded her flight, triumphant with her bin bag filled with clothes in tow. She said others found it 'amusing' as she couldn't make it down the aisle due to the epic size of the plastic bag. 'I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance,' she added. Although she lost her suitcase, the mother-of-three was happy with the outcome as it was cheaper to leave the £45 cabin bag behind rather than pay the fine. 'I needed to solve my problem. I'm a fixer and I fixed the problem. I was fuming. I just had to laugh it off, as much as I was annoyed, it's a suitcase, no one died,' she quipped. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: 'Ryanair's bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. 'If the bag doesn't fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. This passenger's bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. 'There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions.'
Western Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Ryanair: Mum's travel hack helps beat baggage charges
Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford last month and claims she was asked by a member of staff to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. She had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf and was entitled to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm). The 43-year-old caterer admitted her 10kg suitcase was a 'thumbnail' too big and that one of the wheels was sticking out. Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford on 20 May (Image: Kennedy News and Media) She claims a Ryanair staff member then said she would need to pay Euro 70 [£59] to take the bag on the flight. The mum-of-three claims a Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the money or she would not be able to board the aircraft. Natalie said she refused to pay the fee because the staff member was 'rude'. Thinking on her feet, she headed towards a nearby bar at the boarding gate and asked them for a bin bag. When she returned to the gate she emptied all of the clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag, leaving her case behind. A triumphant Natalie said she boarded the plane with the bin bag and placed it in the overhead locker while on-lookers applauded. Footage shows Natalie talking about her experience and the blue bin bag with her possessions in it. Ryanair, who claim the worker involved was from a third party assigned to deal with baggage, said 'our bag policy is simple - if the bag fits in our bag sizer, it gets on free of charge'. (Image: Kennedy News and Media) Natalie said: "It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out so I'm not going to dispute that. "She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, 'if you don't pay Euro 70 you'll get a new flight home. I'll send the flight without you.' "It wasn't the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude. "But I said to my husband, 'open the case' and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, 'have you got a bin bag?' "I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case. "I flung it over my shoulder like Santa and I just went 'there you go, you can keep that'. "And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny. "Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. "I couldn't get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. "I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance." Natalie claims she had flown out to Palma de Mallorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems. Natalie said: "The suitcase is only £45 new so I wasn't going to pay £59. "I needed to solve my problem. I'm a fixer and I fixed the problem. "I was fuming. I just had to laugh it off, as much as I was annoyed, it's a suitcase, no one died. "They [Ryanair staff] just kept looking but said nothing despite the bag being bigger than the case at that point. "It is absolutely ridiculous but I'm glad I stood my ground. There's so many people who would have just gone, 'get the card out, pay them.'" A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "Ryanair's bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn't fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. "This passenger's bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. "There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions."
Powys County Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Ryanair: Mum's travel hack helps beat baggage charges
A mum boarded her Ryanair flight despite refusing to pay the baggage charge - by ditching her suitcase and using a bin bag in front of a gobsmacked 'jobsworth'. Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford last month and claims she was asked by a member of staff to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. She had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf and was entitled to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm). The 43-year-old caterer admitted her 10kg suitcase was a 'thumbnail' too big and that one of the wheels was sticking out. She claims a Ryanair staff member then said she would need to pay Euro 70 [£59] to take the bag on the flight. The mum-of-three claims a Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the money or she would not be able to board the aircraft. Natalie said she refused to pay the fee because the staff member was 'rude'. Thinking on her feet, she headed towards a nearby bar at the boarding gate and asked them for a bin bag. When she returned to the gate she emptied all of the clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag, leaving her case behind. A triumphant Natalie said she boarded the plane with the bin bag and placed it in the overhead locker while on-lookers applauded. Footage shows Natalie talking about her experience and the blue bin bag with her possessions in it. Ryanair, who claim the worker involved was from a third party assigned to deal with baggage, said 'our bag policy is simple - if the bag fits in our bag sizer, it gets on free of charge'. Natalie said: "It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out so I'm not going to dispute that. "She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, 'if you don't pay Euro 70 you'll get a new flight home. I'll send the flight without you.' "It wasn't the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude. "But I said to my husband, 'open the case' and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, 'have you got a bin bag?' "I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case. "I flung it over my shoulder like Santa and I just went 'there you go, you can keep that'. "And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny. "Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. "I couldn't get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. "I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance." Natalie claims she had flown out to Palma de Mallorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems. Natalie said: "The suitcase is only £45 new so I wasn't going to pay £59. "I needed to solve my problem. I'm a fixer and I fixed the problem. "I was fuming. I just had to laugh it off, as much as I was annoyed, it's a suitcase, no one died. "They [Ryanair staff] just kept looking but said nothing despite the bag being bigger than the case at that point. "It is absolutely ridiculous but I'm glad I stood my ground. There's so many people who would have just gone, 'get the card out, pay them.'" A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "Ryanair's bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn't fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. "This passenger's bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead.
North Wales Chronicle
02-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Ryanair: Mum's travel hack helps beat baggage charges
Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford last month and claims she was asked by a member of staff to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. She had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf and was entitled to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm). The 43-year-old caterer admitted her 10kg suitcase was a 'thumbnail' too big and that one of the wheels was sticking out. Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford on 20 May (Image: Kennedy News and Media) She claims a Ryanair staff member then said she would need to pay Euro 70 [£59] to take the bag on the flight. The mum-of-three claims a Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the money or she would not be able to board the aircraft. Natalie said she refused to pay the fee because the staff member was 'rude'. Thinking on her feet, she headed towards a nearby bar at the boarding gate and asked them for a bin bag. When she returned to the gate she emptied all of the clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag, leaving her case behind. A triumphant Natalie said she boarded the plane with the bin bag and placed it in the overhead locker while on-lookers applauded. Footage shows Natalie talking about her experience and the blue bin bag with her possessions in it. Ryanair, who claim the worker involved was from a third party assigned to deal with baggage, said 'our bag policy is simple - if the bag fits in our bag sizer, it gets on free of charge'. (Image: Kennedy News and Media) Natalie said: "It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out so I'm not going to dispute that. "She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, 'if you don't pay Euro 70 you'll get a new flight home. I'll send the flight without you.' "It wasn't the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude. "But I said to my husband, 'open the case' and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, 'have you got a bin bag?' "I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case. "I flung it over my shoulder like Santa and I just went 'there you go, you can keep that'. "And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny. "Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. "I couldn't get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. "I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance." Natalie claims she had flown out to Palma de Mallorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems. Natalie said: "The suitcase is only £45 new so I wasn't going to pay £59. "I needed to solve my problem. I'm a fixer and I fixed the problem. "I was fuming. I just had to laugh it off, as much as I was annoyed, it's a suitcase, no one died. "They [Ryanair staff] just kept looking but said nothing despite the bag being bigger than the case at that point. "It is absolutely ridiculous but I'm glad I stood my ground. There's so many people who would have just gone, 'get the card out, pay them.'" A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "Ryanair's bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn't fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. "This passenger's bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. "There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions."
Glasgow Times
02-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Ryanair: Mum's travel hack helps beat baggage charges
Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford last month and claims she was asked by a member of staff to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. She had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf and was entitled to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm). The 43-year-old caterer admitted her 10kg suitcase was a 'thumbnail' too big and that one of the wheels was sticking out. Natalie Sadler was boarding her flight from Palma de Mallorca to Leeds Bradford on 20 May (Image: Kennedy News and Media) She claims a Ryanair staff member then said she would need to pay Euro 70 [£59] to take the bag on the flight. The mum-of-three claims a Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the money or she would not be able to board the aircraft. Natalie said she refused to pay the fee because the staff member was 'rude'. Thinking on her feet, she headed towards a nearby bar at the boarding gate and asked them for a bin bag. When she returned to the gate she emptied all of the clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag, leaving her case behind. A triumphant Natalie said she boarded the plane with the bin bag and placed it in the overhead locker while on-lookers applauded. Footage shows Natalie talking about her experience and the blue bin bag with her possessions in it. Ryanair, who claim the worker involved was from a third party assigned to deal with baggage, said 'our bag policy is simple - if the bag fits in our bag sizer, it gets on free of charge'. (Image: Kennedy News and Media) Natalie said: "It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out so I'm not going to dispute that. "She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, 'if you don't pay Euro 70 you'll get a new flight home. I'll send the flight without you.' "It wasn't the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude. "But I said to my husband, 'open the case' and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, 'have you got a bin bag?' "I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case. "I flung it over my shoulder like Santa and I just went 'there you go, you can keep that'. "And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny. "Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. "I couldn't get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. "I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance." Natalie claims she had flown out to Palma de Mallorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems. Natalie said: "The suitcase is only £45 new so I wasn't going to pay £59. "I needed to solve my problem. I'm a fixer and I fixed the problem. "I was fuming. I just had to laugh it off, as much as I was annoyed, it's a suitcase, no one died. "They [Ryanair staff] just kept looking but said nothing despite the bag being bigger than the case at that point. "It is absolutely ridiculous but I'm glad I stood my ground. There's so many people who would have just gone, 'get the card out, pay them.'" A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "Ryanair's bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn't fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. "This passenger's bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. "There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions."
