Ryanair forced me to a pay a £50 baggage fee for a ridiculous reason - I thought they were joking

A Ryanair passenger claims she was forced to cough up a 'ridiculous' baggage fee because the wheel of her suitcase poked out of the size checker.

Elizabeth Keenan was travelling from Dublin to London Stansted yesterday morning with the budget airline.

The 31-year-old had already forked out £29 for the flight and £12.40 for priority boarding but she was picked out of the boarding queue to have her bag measured.

She claims her luggage fit into the sizer but a Ryanair employee told her that it was too big as the wheel was sticking out.

Elizabeth, from Dublin, who works in marketing, said she was forced to pay an additional £50.

'It's ridiculous. I paid for priority boarding and got the case especially because it fits.

'When I was in the queue, a staff member came over and asked me to put my bag in the sizer.

'I put it in and took it straight back out because it fit perfectly. She said it was too big and I thought she was joking.

'But she said the wheel was sticking out so I'd have to pay 60 euros. I couldn't believe she was saying it was too big.

'I had to get to London for a conference so I couldn't not get on the flight and I was forced to pay it. Her colleague came over and apologised.'

Elizabeth also claims that other passengers with bigger bags got on the flight without charge.

She says she had purchased the £50 suitcase especially because it fit within the airline's 40x20x25cm specification.

Elizabeth added: 'There were lots of men with bigger cases than mine that got on the flight without being stopped. I'm making a complaint and I want a refund.

'I can afford to pay but a lot of people can't and I don't have loads of money. It's a money making scheme.

'It makes me not want to fly with Ryanair. With an added 60 euros it's not cheaper than other airlines.'

Last month, a holidaymaker slammed 'jobsworth' Ryanair staff for charging him £75 extra for his suitcase being 'too big', despite him having travelled with it for three years with no problems .

Austin Price was flying from Bristol Airport to Krakow, Poland, on October 4 when he was stopped in the queue as staff asked him to put his suitcase in a measuring stand.

The 28-year-old, from Plymouth, Devon, claims that his luggage did fit in the gap but the wheels did not as they are 'wonky' and 'a bit stiff'.

Meanwhile, passenger Jake Hughes was attempting to board his flight at Manchester Airport last Wednesday but clashed with a member of staff who insisted his hand luggage was too big.

Despite demonstrating to staff that this wasn't the case, Jake claims the budget airline threatened to 'terminate' his boarding pass if he didn't cough up with the money and made him delete all the footage he had taken.

It comes after a study showed that flying with British Airways can be cheaper than Ryanair once add-ons are included.

The report by Which? found Ryanair currently forces parents travelling with under 12s to pay for a seat next to their children , costing £8 when Which? checked - though Ryanair says prices start from €4 (£3.34).

Other airlines do not always guarantee that parents can sit with children, which may prompt travellers to pay to ensure their family can be together.

According to Ryanair's website, a passenger is allowed to bring one small personal bag onboard with them .

This bag must fit under the seat in front of them and should measure 40 x 20 x 25 cm.

Passengers can also purchase the Priority and 2 Cabin Bags option, meaning they can bring a second bag which weighs up to 10kg and has maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20 cm.

This bag can be stored in the overhead locker.

Ryanair have been contacted for comment.