It’s a familiar situation for many: You’re at the airport squishing down clothing as you attempt to convince the airline that your bag fits the size limit and avoid paying extra.
The internet is full of tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your baggage allowance, with countless ‘travel influencers’ claiming to possess the ‘one hack’ that will fix all your luggage-related problems.
But if anyone is an expert on the topic, it’s cabin crew who take multiple flights every day.
Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz shared a trick to help passengers avoid extra luggage fees by using a duty-free shopping bag.
He recommends using a duty-free bag to carry clothes and other items that won’t fit in your hand luggage.
This means you can essentially sneak an extra bag on board.
According to Miguel, ‘duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage’, so gate agents tend to turn a blind eye, according to The Mirror.
Holidaymakers can either bring a duty-free bag from home or purchase one at the airport’s duty-free shop.
The internet is full of tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your baggage allowance, with countless ‘travel influencers’ claiming to possess the ‘one hack’ that will fix all your luggage-related problems
According to Miguel, ‘duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage,’ so gate agents tend to turn a blind eye
Most airlines allow duty-free bags in the cabin along with a cabin bag under the assumption that they contain items purchased in the airside departure lounge after passing through the security check.
Miguel said: ‘If you have something that doesn’t fit in your suitcase or you want to bring an extra bag on board, here’s the trick.
‘There is obviously limited space, but at least you are bringing an extra bag on the plane with you.’
Katy Maclure, an expert at travel savings website Jack’s Flight Club, said: ‘This is my favourite trick – and I always use it when flying abroad to pack in extras such as books and clothing. I put my items at the bottom of a duty-free bag.
‘I do the same with a meal deal purchase from a shop such as Boots that I take on board for my meal, adding a few extras into the bag.
‘So far, no one has challenged me. Being friendly and polite to the airline staff also helps. You want them to be on your side.’
Most airlines allow duty-free bags in the cabin along with a cabin bag under the assumption that they contain items purchased in the airside departure lounge
However, the system is not foolproof as staff are trained to spot duty-free tricks.
It comes as from November, Ryanair staff have been told that they will receive an increased bonus of just over £2 (€2.50, up from €1.50) for every passenger they catch trying to sneak an oversized bag onto a flight.
The bonus they can earn is unlimited – previously it was a maximum of €80 (£69) a month. Passengers caught with excess hand luggage on their flights could face a £75 fine.
Other tips to avoid paying for additional baggage include wearing bulkier items and vacuum-packing your luggage.
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Flight attendant’s simple hack to sneak more bags on a plane revealed
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