TW
0

ON 5 May 2012 my family and I travelled from Majorca airport (PMI) destination Marseille with Ryanair flight FR 5198, at the gate my children (Arturo and Alessandro aged 10 and 12 years) were denied boarding because a rude ground staff officer considered the children's hand luggage was oversized because a little pressure was necessary to let them slip down into the bag sizer and consequently dragged us out of the queue for further humiliation! We know and respect the Ryanair policy, my bag and my wife's hand luggage were considered OK but they decided to incriminate our children.
I replied to the officer (a young woman) that we're frequent flyers with Ryanair and that this was the first time the “baby” luggage had been refused; it was self-evident that they were smaller than standard carry-on hand baggage and we prayed to be allowed to go, but nothing. She didn't change her mind and told us: “size doesn't matter; all luggage must slip down itself in to the drop desk with NO PRESSURE at all! You have to pay a 50€ fine for each baggage if you want to be onboard.” Please note: each hand luggage measure 48 x 30 x 22 cm. (see pictures taken at airport in attachment).
My wife and I got stuck and because the officer verbally abused us I asked for her ID, but she refused turning her name badge over! I asked the other desk colleagues to call the police and they replied:” No sir, call the police with your phone if you wish”.
I promptly called the EU emergency number 112 (I don't know the local police number) requesting police intervention explaining what has happened and that I needed to identify the officers by name or ID. The 112 operators ask me hold on line and after three minutes told me they could not help us; “You could file a complaint against the flight company if you wish.” and let the call drop.

Disappointed and frustrated I asked for the names/ID from all the desk personnel but they all refused to give us their names, my wife just reached to read a badge before their turning back. The flight gate normally closes at 20:35, at 21:30 all the passengers were seated on board and we were on the point of bursting into tears menaced by the desk staff with: “Don't trespass the security line, if you don't pay the fines you will miss the flight!” Bullied, harangued, humiliated and blackmailed we decided to pay the fines (50 + 50 Euros) and finally boarded at 21:40. The flight was delayed because of us, we landed at Marseille 30 minutes late.

My children my wife and I were shocked to be rudely threatened as criminals and our wonderful holiday was completely ruined.
I consider this a severe abuse of our rights and I want to drag the companies Aena and Ryanair into a French court and claim for moral and emotional distress damages.

An Ex Ryanair customer
Stefano Brozzoni
7, avenue des Albizzi
1326 0 Cassis France