NHS Doctor Ejected From easyJet Flight in Christmas Eve Baggage Dispute
An NHS doctor has made serious allegations against easyJet, claiming an "aggressive" crew member threw her off a flight over a hand luggage disagreement, even though her bag reportedly fit within the required dimensions. The incident occurred on December 24, 2025, at London Luton Airport, completely disrupting her holiday plans.
Christmas Travel Plans Shattered at the Gate
Dr. Vana Katsomitrou was traveling to Alicante, Spain, for a four-night Christmas getaway with friends, carrying only hand luggage. According to her account, a ground staff member stopped her at the gate, insisting her backpack was too large for the cabin. Vana demonstrated that after removing her denim jacket, the bag "comfortably" fit inside the airline's sizing box.
The situation escalated dramatically when Vana tapped the staff member's arm to draw attention to the properly fitting bag. The employee reportedly shouted "don't touch me," accused Vana of harassment, and refused to allow her to board the £160 flight to Spain. Despite apologizing and offering to pay the £60 baggage fee, Vana was denied travel.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
Vana, who works as an NHS doctor and lives in Wembley Park, London, described the staff member as having an "attitude" with everyone boarding. "She was so angry and annoyed at me," Vana stated. "It's like she was annoyed that she was working Christmas Eve and wanted to ruin everyone else's time. I wasn't aggressive at all."
EasyJet has presented a different version of events. The airline confirmed that Vana removed items from her bag to make it fit the gauge, but claimed she then became "disruptive" toward their team. An easyJet spokesperson stated: "As Ms Katsomitrou behaved disruptively towards our team at the gate, she was refused travel. We do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour towards our staff."
Aftermath and Failed Resolution Attempts
The consequences were particularly painful for Vana. With no alternative flights available, she was forced to spend Christmas alone while her friends celebrated in Spain. "They ruined my Christmas," she lamented, having already paid for transportation, accommodation, and airport transfers.
Following her complaint, easyJet offered a mere £13 refund while maintaining that her behavior had been problematic. The airline initially cited security reasons for not disclosing their investigation outcome, but later told Vana to "rest assured" they took her feedback seriously.
Vana strongly disputes the airline's characterization of her conduct. "I'm really careful about how I speak to people," she explained. "I work for the NHS and I'm always careful not to say something that will offend people." She claims even the airport allocator witnessed no threatening behavior from her side.
Experienced Traveler's Frustration
As a frequent traveler who regularly takes short trips abroad with just a backpack, Vana expressed particular frustration. "I've travelled lots of times with this bag and always put it under the seat," she said. "I'm passionate about travel, I just came back from Colombia, I am experienced in travelling and organised."
The incident has left her vowing to avoid easyJet in the future. "I'd never fly with easyJet again unless it is a matter of life and death," she declared, highlighting the emotional and financial toll of the Christmas Eve confrontation.
EasyJet maintains that its ground handling agents properly enforce baggage policies to ensure fairness among all passengers. The airline's report states that Vana's luggage initially exceeded her booked allowance before she removed items to make it compliant with cabin restrictions.
