NHS Doctor Ejected from Christmas Eve Flight in Hand Luggage Disagreement
An NHS doctor has detailed a distressing confrontation with EasyJet that resulted in her being removed from a Christmas Eve flight to Spain over a hand luggage dispute, despite her insistence that her bag complied with size regulations.
Christmas Holiday Plans Derailed at Luton Airport
Dr Vana Katsomitrou arrived at London Luton Airport on December 24th, prepared for a four-night holiday in Alicante with friends. Traveling with only hand luggage for the short trip, her plans quickly unravelled during the boarding process. According to Dr Katsomitrou, an EasyJet employee requested she place her backpack in the sizing box, claiming it exceeded permitted dimensions.
The doctor maintains that after removing a denim jacket and wearing it, her bag fit comfortably within the measurement container. When she attempted to demonstrate this by tapping the staff member's shoulder, the situation escalated dramatically.
Alleged Confrontation and Boarding Refusal
"She started shouting 'don't touch me' and accused me of harassment," Dr Katsomitrou recounted. "I immediately apologised and even offered to pay the £60 luggage fee, but they refused to let me board." The £160 flight to Alicante departed without her, leaving the doctor stranded on Christmas Eve with no alternative flights available.
From her home in Wembley Park, London, the NHS doctor expressed her devastation: "I had to spend Christmas alone. They ruined my Christmas. I work for the NHS and am always careful about how I speak to people. I wasn't aggressive at all."
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
EasyJet has presented a different version of events. A spokesperson confirmed that while Dr Katsomitrou did remove items to make her bag fit the sizer, she subsequently "behaved disruptively towards our team at the gate," leading to her being refused travel. The airline stated firmly: "We do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour towards our staff."
In their correspondence with the doctor, EasyJet referenced a staff member who "felt threatened" but declined to provide specific details "for security reasons." They assured her they took her feedback seriously while offering only a £13 refund for the cancelled journey.
Financial and Emotional Fallout
The incident resulted in significant financial losses for Dr Katsomitrou beyond the flight itself. She had already paid for Uber transportation to and from the airport, an Airbnb accommodation in Spain, and airport taxi transfers. "I felt awful and exhausted," she described. "The airport allocator even said they didn't see or hear me threaten anyone."
Doctor Vows to Avoid Airline in Future
Following what she describes as inadequate resolution from EasyJet's complaints process, Dr Katsomitrou has made a firm declaration about future travel. "I'd never fly with EasyJet again unless it is a matter of life and death," she stated emphatically. Despite providing photographic evidence during her appeal, the airline maintained their position that she had been disruptive.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between airlines enforcing strict baggage policies and passengers who believe they are complying with regulations. With budget carriers increasingly vigilant about hand luggage dimensions to maximize cabin space and additional revenue, such confrontations at boarding gates appear to be becoming more frequent.
EasyJet reiterated their standard procedure: "Our ground crew will check that bags are within the maximum dimensions to ensure they fit where they need to be stowed in the cabin and in fairness to customers who have booked to bring additional luggage." However, for Dr Katsomitrou, this Christmas Eve encounter has permanently altered her perception of the airline and left her with solitary holiday memories instead of Spanish celebrations with friends.
