Northern Ireland

EasyJet’s baggage policy explained after airline’s Belfast apology

The airline issued a refund earlier this week after a Belfast couple were incorrectly charged for hand luggage.

EasyJet was the worst affected airline, with 42 cancellations (Gareth Fuller/PA)
The airline issued a refund earlier this week after a Belfast couple were incorrectly charged for hand luggage. (Gareth Fuller/PA)
By Allan Preston

AFTER easyJet backtracked on a decision to charge a Belfast couple for hand luggage earlier this week, the Irish News has taken a closer look at the airline’s policy.

Information on the easyJet website states that every passenger is permitted to bring one item of hand luggage on board for free, with a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20cm including any handles or wheels and top weight of 15kg.

Customers are asked to be able to carry and lift the bag themselves as well as to store it under the seat in front of them.

Passengers can also pay or use an easyJet membership to book a large cabin bag with a maximum size of 56 x 45 x 25cm and weight of 15kg, which must be able to fit inside an overhead locker.

If there is no space available, larger bags will be placed in the hold.

The guidance adds that bags will be checked for size before boarding, with those that are too large placed in the hold with charges applying.

Those with an oversized small cabin bag at the airport that haven’t pre-booked face a charge of £48.

Pre-booked hold luggage that exceeds the maximum weight of 32kg can also be charged up to £15 per 3kg.

Earlier this week, Belfast woman Clíona McCarney and her husband were each charged £48 for their hand luggage, with Ms McCarney told she couldn’t push her backpack to fit in the baggage size gauge at Belfast International Airport.

The airline had initially defended this, stating they “clearly inform customers of maximum cabin bag dimensions when booking, via email before they travel and it is also clearly displayed on boarding passes”.

By Tuesday, the ambiguity over ‘bag shoving’ appeared to change with easyJet issuing a statement to say they were “very sorry” that Ms McCarney was “incorrectly charged”.

“This was due to a misunderstanding at the gate by the check-in agent and we are looking into her feedback about her experience as this is not the level of service we expect for our customers.”

They added: “We will be reaching out to Ms McCarney and will be processing a refund in full as well as offering a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused.”