**Traveller Layers Up to Dodge EasyJet’s £70 Baggage Fee, Claims Victory**
A British holidaymaker has gone viral after donning an extraordinary seven pairs of trousers at Bristol Airport, all in a bid to sidestep a last-minute £70 baggage charge imposed by easyJet. The creative act has sparked wide debate about airline baggage policies and the lengths to which some passengers will go to avoid hefty fees.
Bee Solman, 31, together with her partner Ben, 32, had splashed out £280 for return tickets from Bristol to Mercia International Airport, near Torrevieja in Spain. Despite paying extra to secure their preferred seats, their journey encountered a snag when ground staff asked Ben to check if his bag fit within the cabin luggage sizer. When the case refused to slot in, the couple were informed they would need to fork out an additional £70.
Refusing to hand over further funds, Bee sprang into action. As she recounted later, “We were picked at random for a bag check. My luggage was within the limits, but Ben’s couldn’t be squeezed in, no matter what we tried.” Bee quickly devised a way around the policy, heading to an airport toilet to redistribute their clothing.
While there, she layered herself in an impressive array of outfits – seven pairs of trousers, multiple t-shirts, and a denim jacket. Ben, not to be outdone, put on two pairs of shorts, three shirts, and even stashed his laptop mouse in his pocket. “It gets expensive when you add up all the extras. I told them I’d wear the clothes instead,” Bee explained.
According to Bee, the easyJet staff at the boarding gate saw the funny side of her impromptu fashion show. Rather than prevent them from boarding, staff snapped a picture and joked, “You’ll go viral!” She was cautioned, though, that “it’s fine for now but next time, you’ll have to pay.”
Once safely aboard the plane, Bee reversed her creative layering process, discreetly removing the extra garments and returning them to her hand luggage. “From the airport to the plane I looked pretty ridiculous,” she admitted. “One fellow passenger even commented that I looked lighter than when I boarded. Most of the trousers were thin, so I just looked like I had particularly thick ones on. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if necessary.”
The incident, which occurred on 20 April, has drawn both amusement and scrutiny online as fellow travellers debate whether such tactics are fair game or simply cheeky rule-bending. Airline passengers have regularly expressed frustration at what they see as ‘hidden’ add-on fees for baggage, meals, and extras that can quickly ratchet up the cost of budget travel.
Frequent flyers have long resorted to inventive packing techniques or investing in regulation-sized cabin bags to dodge extra charges. However, layering up to beat the system may strike a chord in an era where more people are feeling the pinch of rising travel costs. Bee’s experience is a reminder that for some, resourcefulness remains key when squaring off against strict airline policies.
EasyJet have been approached for comment regarding the incident, but have yet to respond. The airline’s standard cabin bag policy permits only one free small bag, with passengers facing substantial penalties if this is exceeded. Critics argue the system surprises many travellers at the gate and call for greater clarity and flexibility.
Bee says the escapade, while uncomfortable, was entirely worth it. “Flying is already expensive enough without unexpected charges. If I need to, I’d add another layer next time rather than pay more.” Her story has quickly captured public imagination as both a humorous anecdote and a nod to the ongoing debate about budget travel’s true costs.