A holidaymaker has revealed how he dodged a £75 to £100 surcharge on a Ryanair flight by using a £15 travel pillow. Leon Docwra, 50, packed underwear, T-shirts, swimming shorts and even a beach towel into the pillow before boarding a flight from Norwich to Portugal.
The Clever Trick
Leon, who flies monthly, previously faced extra charges for overpacking. He explained: "We fly frequently and have been charged for having too much stuff in our bags and wanted to find a way to get extra on without paying fees." Neck pillows are permitted as hand luggage, and the airline did not inspect his. As a contingency, he wore two tracksuits, three pairs of pants, and three pairs of socks. "If they had checked, I would have gone to the bathroom and worn everything to avoid paying a £75 fine," he said. "It did get hot but it was worth it."
Contents and Reactions
The scrap metal dealer had paid approximately £400 for hand luggage only. Inside the pillow were four pairs of boxer shorts, four pairs of socks, four T-shirts, two pairs of swimming shorts, and a beach towel. This is not the first time he has employed the tactic. "I'll do it every time. Flights are expensive enough without having to pay for extra luggage and fines," he said. "I fly a lot so I'd spend a fortune on baggage. It's money we can spend on our holiday."
Leon shared a video of the stuffed pillow online, garnering praise. "People think it's great. They said they're going to start doing it themselves," he added. "Anything at the moment where you can save money is great to share with others."
Comments ranged from humorous to supportive. One person wrote: "I wore two trackies when I travelled last week to avoid the extra cost. Was sweating like a b*tch though." Another said: "Mate, I'd rather pay the 80 quid than have to iron that lot the other end." A third commented: "Just like Joey from Friends." Others warned: "Can u block the airline lol? They will start asking to check these items." But many agreed: "That's actually a good idea. I got charged over £100 on my last trip."
