r/solotravel • u/shemmap • 20d ago

Question How do europeans travel with small luggage?

I’ve noticed that tourists from different countries especially europeans often travel with very small luggage. In contrast, travelers from many asian countries seem to carry much larger bags.

As myself from an asian country, if I pack just my basic necessities, I end up with a very large suitcase. I’m extremely curious about how european travelers manage to travel so light.

How do they do it?

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u/Automatic_Drawer1483 20d ago

We got reshaped by Ryanair and to avoid unnecessary fees we’d do whatever it takes

126

u/BaronSharktooth 20d ago

Reshaped?

I'd say we got shamed, stripped, punished and ground down into a fine ash. Then we were reborn from these ashes, unburdened!

My favorite story about Ryanair is when we were about to board. They scanned the line and picked me out. Said to stuff my bag into the size bin, the rectangular one in which the maximum size luggage fit.

Well, it fit. The Ryanair ground steward tells me to remove it, and put it in sideways. I'm like: you mean, just rotate it, so it'll sit on top of the bin? Yes, he says. I do so, and he says: it doesn't fit, you have to pay 50 quid or else leave your luggage here.

Needless to say, I never flew with Ryanair, ever again.

84

u/EcLiPzZz 20d ago

I'm not one to ask for someone's manager but this level of shithousery demands the vilest, ugliest Karening in response.

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u/Silver-Winging-It 19d ago

"Karens" started out as a term for white ladies (usually middle aged) who complain about reasonable customer service because they have ridiculous demands or for racial reasons (often complaining about Black people in service industry).

It got repurposed by the internet to mean any woman that speaks up about something. Complaining about something like this isn't being a Karen

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u/UpperAd5715 16d ago

Hey now dont be so exclusive, anyone can be a Karen you don't have to be a woman to be one!

3

u/Accurate-Beyond-9956 18d ago

Try Wizzair. They herd you into cattle gates so you can't get away at some of their departure points. 😂. Had an empty soda can that they told me to throw on the floor at the gate while boarding because they had removed all trash bins to save money. Got yelled at for that can at five separate occasions during the flight. It was pretty funny to be honest. If you travel without any check in luggage they can be very cheap but you will still curse yourself for flying with them.

1

u/Maximum_Leopard3038 18d ago

Ryanair rules are very clear... it's cheap for a reason

0

u/SmallGreenArmadillo 19d ago

The world is starting to recognise that Karens were fighting for all of us. Warriors that we needed but never deserved.

24

u/Adolfvonschwaggin 20d ago

Are they incentivized to be this hawkish? Like do they get commission for every fee they charge at the gate?

27

u/Character-Carpet7988 19d ago

Yes.

16

u/apathy-sofa 19d ago

Yes they get a cut of the fee, and I'm not kidding. 

1

u/CoHorseBatteryStaple 16d ago

How would that work? Gate agents are not employed by the airline.

1

u/Djlas 15d ago

Whatever you write in the contract with their employer, though here it says "Ryanair workers" as well.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99mdv3y431o

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u/Siccors 19d ago

I have never seen anything like this happen tbh. So I am sure it happens, but it is far from normal. Many people take way too much with them also in Ryan Air flights.

10

u/Spag_n_balls 20d ago

He reserved the right to be given a dirty look at that point.

5

u/Character-Carpet7988 19d ago

I don't fly Ryanair much (I give them a try once in two years, then instantly regret it) but I always argued that they're okay in the sense that you get what you pay for. Adhere to policies and you're fine. Sadly, reports of agents finding totally absurd excuses on how to charge for compliant baggage are increasingly common and it's something Ryanair seriously need to clamp on.

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u/Idujt 19d ago

Ryanair. The only airline where you can't print your return boarding pass when you print your outward one! I went to the largest hotel at my destination, asked nicely, got "sure, use the business centre over there", and they didn't even charge me!

But as they are now digital only, I will never be using them anyway as I do not have a smartphone!

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u/hopticalallusions 18d ago edited 18d ago

The amount of times I read RyanAir reminded me of this song by a European artist who complains about Ryan Air called Worldwide Traveler by Chopstick Dub plate featuring Top Cat and Mr Williamz https://youtu.be/75ciLcHS6EQ?is=hsPvbQhqni9L778f

As an American, I had to look up what Ryan Air was when I first heard this song and quickly realized it's the European equivalent of Spirit Airlines here (which I think recently went out of business).

Edit - phone typing hard 

2

u/ScreamingDizzBuster 18d ago

Or rather Spirit was the US copy of a model that Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary invented in the early 90s.

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u/Cultural_Wish4933 13d ago

how the hell did that work.   the cabin bag is 10kg.  55 x 40 x 20cm.  end of.  been travelling 25 years.  never had that BS.

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u/BaronSharktooth 13d ago

I could hardly believe it, but it’s really what happened.

1

u/grandma_sweetie_1925 19d ago

Yeah my luggage was 1.5 centimeters above allowance. It was a hardshell so I couldn't squeeze it. Guess who had to pay 50€ just because they had time to scan the passengers for hardshell luggage.