## DIY Dad’s Ingenious Approach Saves Family Hundreds on Ryanair Bag Fees
A resourceful father from Kent has gone viral after finding a creative solution to sidestep Ryanair’s dreaded excess baggage fees, which could have cost his family over £500. Neil Armstrong, a 54-year-old graphic designer and father-of-three, was preparing for a trip with nine members of his family when concerns grew about the strict luggage size regulations imposed by the budget airline.
Ryanair is well known for its rigorous enforcement of carry-on size limits, with oversized bags subject to an on-the-spot charge of 60 euros (about £51) per item. For Neil and his group of ten, even a single outsize bag each could have added up to a staggering £510 – a significant dent in any holiday budget.
To avoid this potential financial pitfall, Neil devised a do-it-yourself method that has since captivated the attention of thousands online. Utilising cardboard and a tape measure, he constructed a replica of Ryanair’s baggage measuring box in just 15 minutes, precisely fashioned to the airline’s current cabin bag specification: 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.
“Getting stung with surprise charges just wasn’t an option,” Neil explained. “We’d all read the stories of travellers having to pay up at the gate, and with so many of us travelling, the risk was too great.” Rather than risk untested bags at Stansted’s departure gate, he invited all family members round to test their hand luggage using his homemade box.
Neil’s commitment to accuracy meant he even found himself unable to use his original backpack when it didn’t fit the mock-up, prompting a switch to a smaller bag. “I felt a bit like a Ryanair employee, making everyone check their bags fit.” Despite the gentle teasing from his family, Neil says they were all ultimately grateful for the precaution. “The family had a bit of a laugh, but they all agree it was a clever move,” he said.
The story reached a wider audience when Neil’s daughter, Imogen (Immy), aged 20, uploaded a light-hearted TikTok video showing her father in action. The clip swiftly racked up over 200,000 views, sparking conversation among holidaymakers facing similar anxieties about surprise airport charges.
Commenters applauded Neil’s methodical approach, with several dubbing him the ultimate “airport dad”. Some have been inspired to create their own luggage checkers after seeing the video, warning fellow travellers not to rely solely on tape measures or guesswork. The collective wisdom echoes Neil’s sentiment: at the airport, it’s too late to fix a mistake.
This episode underscores a broader trend among passengers flying with budget airlines: a willingness to go to creative lengths to avoid unexpected costs. It also highlights persistent concerns regarding the clarity and unpredictability of luggage regulations enforced by carriers like Ryanair. While some view these rules as necessary for efficiency and low fares, others see them as a potential minefield for travellers.
Imogen’s viral video was playfully captioned, “When your dad doesn’t wanna pay Ryanair £70 so makes his own hand luggage check.” It prompted a range of reactions, from amusement to genuine admiration, with one user proclaiming, “A new level of airport dad has been unlocked.”
The Armstrong family now feels confident that a costly start to their Stansted-to-Tenerife trip has been avoided, thanks to Neil’s homemade solution. As travel resumes and more families prepare for summer getaways, his hack has offered both practical peace of mind and a bit of light-hearted inspiration to would-be holidaymakers.
Wales Online approached Ryanair for a comment on the DIY baggage checker, but a response had not been received by the time of publication. As debates continue on social media about airline charges and travel hacks, Neil Armstrong’s creative approach has clearly struck a chord with many.