A mother has alleged that Ryanair staff unfairly targeted her to pay for an oversized suitcase while allowing other passengers they deemed ‘young and good-looking’ to pass without charges. Maxine Haughian, aged 63, was on her way to Alicante, Spain, last month when she was asked to have her cabin bag measured at the queue. Despite having paid for priority boarding, Maxine claimed her bag slightly exceeded the dimensions by 2cm and was told to pay £75 to check it in. However, she observed that other passengers with similar-sized bags were not stopped, including a ‘young and attractive’ woman whose case also stuck out but was allowed through without charge.
Maxine, a retired prison governor and grandmother of 11, expressed her frustration online, pointing out the apparent double standard in enforcing Ryanair’s guidelines. She criticised the airline for what she perceived as favouritism based on age and appearance. Despite eventually being allowed to board without paying extra after showing a photo of the young woman’s case, Maxine measured her bag to find it only slightly exceeded the stated limits by two centimetres.
In a Facebook post, Maxine vented her anger at the situation, questioning why she was singled out while others with similar bags were not. She noted the inconsistency in applying the rules and suggested that the enforcement seemed arbitrary. Ryanair declined to comment on the allegations.
Reflecting on the incident, Maxine acknowledged that her assumptions about age and looks influencing the staff’s decisions could be wrong but could not find another explanation. She emphasised the need for fair and consistent application of rules, expressing her distress over feeling targeted and helpless in the situation. Maxine’s experience has raised concerns about potential biases in the airline’s practices and has sparked discussions about equal treatment for all passengers regardless of their appearance.