Holidaymakers have been warned to “stop listening to the internet” after a flyer was grounded for copying a viral packing hack.
Jet-setters are always on the lookout for savvy ways to pack their bags, especially with today’s nifty luggage options that boast numerous compartments and lightweight designs to ease those pesky baggage allowance headaches.
However, travellers need to be clued up about airline policies; certain crafty packing methods could see you barred from your flight. A TikTok trend has recently been doing the rounds, encouraging holiday-goers who can’t quite squeeze under the weight limit to stash extra items in a pillowcase.
But one would-be passenger learned the hard way that not all hacks are airport-approved. Attempting to board a flight at Orlando International Airport, he insisted he had no checked luggage, just a pillowcase which was sneakily stuffed with his essentials.
The debacle was caught on camera by TikToker @natashaorganic, whose video showed the frustrated traveller being turned away by airline staff whom she alleges denied him boarding. The clip, which amassed a whopping 2.6 million views, ended with the man being led from the gate by police, much to the shock of onlookers.
The TikTok user cautioned: “Stop letting these social media sites give you tips and tricks because sometimes it’s not going to work, okay? This dude was trying to take in a pillowcase full of clothing and other items, which he is stating is simply just a pillowcase.”
When the airline staff offered the passenger the option to pay for his extra luggage, he procrastinated “all the way up until they closed the doors” before agreeing to fork out the cash. Natasha recounted how the man attempted to sneak back onto the plane, only to be rebuffed by the crew who told him “no bro we gave you a chance and you didn’t pay for it”.
Social media users were quick to react to the bizarre incident, with one person questioning: “How are people experimenting at the airport?” Another chimed in, saying: “People play too many games.”
A woman shared a word of caution: “My husband worked for United and we fly for free so I have to not only act right but dress right to fly. I’d be so scared of getting on the no fly list.” “Don’t mess around at the airport,” another advised, while someone else confessed: “I’ve been replacing the stuffing in my travel neck pillow for years, he just did it wrong.”
The airline implicated in Natasha’s story has been contacted for comment.
Rules for pillows on airlines
The US Transportation Security Administration states that pillows are permitted in both carry-on bags and checked bags, according to TSA’s website. You should be able to bring a full-size pillow through security, but it is down to the airline if it is considered a personal item – American Airlines, Delta, and Unite all consider a pillow a personal item.
In the UK, pillows are considered personal items, of which each person is only permitted to bring one on board, alongside a carry-on bag. Passengers will need to check with the airline to see what restrictions are in place as each differs.
At Ryanair, a pillow or neck pillow may not officially be taken onboard in addition to hand luggage, so staff may want to take a closer look.
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