Had a really strange experience flying Ryanair from London to Cologne a few weeks ago and I’m still trying to figure out if this was actually policy or just a power trip.
At the gate I had one personal item and a small fanny pack with essential medication that I need to keep on me. A staff member told me the fanny pack had to go inside my backpack. I explained what it was, but agreed to comply.
I stepped slightly to the side and put my backpack on a nearby seat so I could reorganise it without blocking boarding. I stayed within a couple metres and in her line of sight the whole time. I also have a back condition that makes bending down difficult, which is why I did it that way.
She immediately raised her voice and threatened to offload me, saying I wasn’t allowed to “reorganise” my bag at the gate. I calmly explained what I was doing and why, but she stayed aggressive and dismissive. It was honestly humiliating.
I also saw her treat other passengers the same way, and several ended up being charged extra fees.
Is there actually a Ryanair policy that says you can’t reorganise your bag at the gate, or is this just down to individual staff interpretation? I’ve never encountered anything like this before.
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