• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Ryanair » Ryanair Accused Of Asking Autistic Teen To Pay Extra Baggage Fee For His Emotional Support Doll
Ryanair

Ryanair Accused Of Asking Autistic Teen To Pay Extra Baggage Fee For His Emotional Support Doll

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 3, 2019November 14, 2023 6 Comments

a plane with a ladder

Ryanair is firmly denying that asked an autistic teenager to pay up to check-in his “comfort” doll.

Helen Estella wrote on Facebook that her son Leo experienced a meltdown after Ryanair staff told him he’d have to pay to check-in his pint-sized doll or else leave it behind.

Leo is 15 years old and severely autistic; his mother claims he has the mind of a three-year old. Leo was traveling from Alicantae back home to England on Ryanair with his caregiver. Helen further claims that when staff told Leo his doll constituted an extra piece of hand baggage, he began crying and raising his voice. Police were called and tensions escalated when an officer “physically touched” the teenager. Leo was deemed not fit to fly and denied boarding. Instead, he was bought to an airport clinic for medication. Once sedated, the flight had already departed.

But Ryanair tells a very different story. In a statement to the UK Daily Mail, Ryanair argued that Helen had fabricated her story:

This teenage passenger and his carer were provided with special assistance by Alicante airport after checking in. (All such assistance in Alicante is provided by the Airport Authority).

At passport control, the teenager became agitated and aggressive towards his carer and the carer took the decision not to travel. The passengers were then taken to the airport medical assistance team where the upset passenger received sedation.

As these two passengers never arrived at the Ryanair Boarding gate, their luggage was offloaded at the request of Alicante passport control staff, who advised Ryanair’s gate agents that they had decided not to travel.

These two passengers did not arrive at the boarding gate, and therefore, they were not “denied boarding” and neither were they charged for any hand luggage.

Indeed, this story doesn’t seem to pass the smell test. I’m not talking about a 15-year-old playing with dolls as much as the odd notion that Ryanair would suggest that such a doll be considered additional carry-on baggage. I do notice in one of Helen’s pictures (below), the boy seems to have a bag full of dolls. Perhaps that was the issue? Perhaps airport ground staff performing carry-on compliance checks outside the security checkpoint deemed the bag an unauthorized additional carry-on?

a woman looking at a baby dollimage: Facebook

CONCLUSION

In any case, Helen bought Leo a new ticket on Jet2 and he made it home safely. Flight attendants apparently took good care of him, blocking off a row of seats exclusively for him and playing dolls with him.

I bring this story to your attention for one reason: it is true that sometimes disabilities are difficult to discern. I’m not saying Ryanair or even the airport staff did anything wrong. But I am saying that just because someone looks “normal” does not mean they do not suffer from crippling disabilities. This story reminded me that there is always room to be more sensitive to others.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt To Los Angeles
Next Article Delta Air Lines Caught In Political Turmoil…Again

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Cockpit Cofee Spill

    Push For One-Pilot Commercial Aircraft Gains Steam

    February 12, 2023
  • belarus journalist arrested on ryanair flight

    Couple Abandon Child At Airport Over €25 Fee

    February 5, 2023
  • Ryanair Misleading Ad

    Discount Airlines May Be Coronavirus Travel Remedy

    May 31, 2020

6 Comments

  1. Sean M. Reply
    May 3, 2019 at 7:57 am

    I have personally seen Ryanair at London Gatwick insist that a crying child either throw away their doll, or pay extra to check-in their mini backpack. In the end, the parent paid to check-in their own bag and carried the mini-backpack (while the child carried the doll).

    • Matthew Reply
      May 3, 2019 at 8:51 am

      That bad, huh? I suppose I should not be surprised…

  2. Paolo Reply
    May 3, 2019 at 10:03 am

    Nothing would surprise about Ryanair. On a related matter, there is a story today ( maybe BBC website, I don’t quite recall) about ‘ hidden disability’ services at airports. It’s a scheme in which support is available to those who have disabilities other than physical, eg, Asperger , various phobias, etc.

    • Paolo Reply
      May 3, 2019 at 10:16 am

      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-03/travel-autism-aspergers-brisbane-airport-hidden-disaibilities/11064712

  3. Josh Reply
    May 3, 2019 at 8:01 pm

    But the story says he became agitated at passport control. That wouldn’t seem to have anything to do with the doll since passport control wouldn’t have anything to do with Ryanair’s carry on policy.

  4. Arthur Reply
    May 4, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    If a stress-free flight is important to you, why would you fly Ryanair?

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • private member clubs
    Private Clubs Are The Latest Trend In Luxury Hotels May 25, 2025
  • a plane on the runway
    ANA Passenger Tried To “Murder All Onboard”, Diverts To Seattle May 25, 2025
  • Thompson Miami Beach courtesy of Hyatt Hotels-Two-Queen-Beds-With-Balcony
    Sneak Peek At The Thompson Miami Beach (Opens Fall 2025) May 25, 2025
  • Motion Sickness Uber
    I Used To Get So Much Done In Ubers. Now I Just Try Not To Puke. May 24, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.