Ryanair singled me out for my oversized suitcase while they let young and good-looking passengers to board without charge

A 63-year-old grandmother has claimed that she was singled out by Ryanair staff and forced to cough up for her oversized suitcase - while 'young and good looking' passengers were allowed through free of charge.

Maxine Haughian was flying to Alicante on the east coast of Spain from Leeds Bradford Airport in September when she was picked out of the boarding queue to have her cabin baggage measured.

The grandmother-of-11, who had already forked out £25 for priority boarding, claims her luggage fit inside the guidance rack, but stuck out 'very slightly' by 2cm on the side.

With that, the Ryanair staff in attendance informed Maxine that she must pay a further £75 if she wished to take her bag on board. 

However, while waiting to board, the retired prison governor claimed she began noticing other passengers were allowed through without charge - despite having the same sized suitcase as her.

Maxine even went as far as to suggest that her not being as 'young or attractive' as other passengers may have contributed to Ryanair staff charging her a fee.

Shaming the low-budget airline on social media, the York native ranted that she was 'obviously not young or good-looking enough' to get away with it while picturing a younger 'gorgeous' lady who was let through.

Adding that she has travelled with the same suitcase on numerous occasions with Ryanair and never faced any issues, Maxine said; 'I've used it for nearly ten years... the measurements are on the site and it clearly states they've got to sit within the lines of the rack. It was sticking out very slightly. It seemed so unfair. The bag did fit in.

'I was pretty furious but then I became more annoyed when people started walking past and they selected certain people to put their bag in. People were walking past with bags that would clearly not fit in the guide rack and they weren't even being stopped.'

Exasperated, Maxine took a photograph of a 'young and attractive' woman whose bag was allowed through without a fee - despite being oversized.

The mum claims she was eventually permitted on the plane without charge after showing staff the picture of the younger lady's case not fitting either but her being allowed on.

Maxine has since measured her case which she says is two centimetres wider than the Ryanair rules stated online.

Reflecting on her rant, Maxine acknowledged that she could be wrong that it was simply down to her age and looks but said she could find no other explanation and 'that was the only thing that was different'.

Maxine concluded by saying that Ryanair's decision to let her board without paying the fee only furthered her suspicions.

'I think it's all a money-making exercise... I'm a bit older, perhaps they thought I would be compliant. A lot of people just paid the money.

'That remark [about her being younger than me] was a little bit facetious. I guess I was just angry at the time and felt like why else are you letting this person through because to me I can't see anything that differentiates that person or her bag and me and my bag other than the fact that person is significantly younger than I am'.

Ryanair declined to comment when contacted by Kennedy News & Media.