Charged for your bag
at the gate?
Reasonable cabin baggage isn't supposed to cost extra. Know your rights on the spot, and claim back an unfair fee after.
Rights at the gate
A calm, word-for-word script and your rights in plain English — for the moment it's happening.
Know if it was fair
We check your bag against the law and tell you straight whether the fee is recoverable.
Letter that lands
Generate a refund demand citing the 2014 ruling and your consumer rights. Keep 100%.
Pick where you are right now. You can switch at any time.
The law, in one line
In 2014 the EU Court of Justice ruled hand baggage of reasonable size and weight can't be charged for (case C-487/12). The UK kept it. In May 2025, consumer groups across Europe filed a formal complaint against easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and others over these very fees.
Common questions
Can airlines actually charge for a cabin bag at the gate?
They can charge for genuinely oversized or overweight bags, but the 2014 EU Court of Justice ruling (case C-487/12) says hand baggage within reasonable size and weight limits can't carry a price supplement. The UK kept this principle after Brexit. If your bag was within what you'd booked, the charge is on shaky ground.
I already paid at the gate. Can I still get it back?
Yes. Paying under protest to make your flight doesn't waive your right to a refund. Write to the airline, cite the law, give them 14 days, then escalate free to their ADR scheme or the Civil Aviation Authority. If you paid by card, chargeback is a backup.
Why do gate staff seem so aggressive about it?
Because some airlines pay them to be. Ryanair confirmed it pays gate agents a commission (around €2.50, rising to €3.50) for every oversized bag they flag. It's a revenue stream, which is why people travelling alone, with kids, or who look unlikely to argue often get singled out.
What if I don't have the staff member's name or a photo?
That's normal — you're rushed and under pressure. Your flight number, the gate, the date and time, and the amount charged are enough to build a case. Our 'at the gate' mode helps you capture these fast.
Are the cheap cabin-bag fees airlines advertise actually real?
Rarely. A survey of nearly 1,500 fares found the lowest advertised prices appeared less than 1% of the time — easyJet's £5.99 fee showed up on zero flights (average around £30), and Ryanair's £12 fee appeared just twice across 634 flights.
They counted on you giving up
Turn your gate fee into a tracked case. We find the airline's complaints contact, sharpen the letter, send it, and chase the reply.
Start your free complaintRelated
Other places this tool comes in handy — plus the companies most likely to be on the receiving end.