Wizz Air passengers could face a £55 fine for carrying a neck pillow, as the airline does not consider it a separate free item. The policy, listed on the carrier's website, states that neck pillows are not included in the list of possessions customers can take on board at no extra cost, which includes coats, blankets, phones, books, and Duty Free purchases.
According to the airline, neck pillows must fit inside your cabin bag. If they do not, they may be treated as an additional item and subject to oversized or excess baggage charges. This rule applies even if you are wearing the pillow through the gate, a practice most airlines allow.
Passenger experiences vary
Reddit users report that the likelihood of being fined often depends on the staff member at the gate. One user, @NijeMojNalog, wrote that most of the time crew leave passengers holding pillows outside their backpacks, but on one occasion his girlfriend was asked to put her pillow back inside and measure the backpack. Because there was no space, they were charged €50 for the pillow.
Another commenter, @Neroli98, claims to have taken over 50 Wizz Air flights without paying for hanging a neck pillow from their backpack, while @bhomburg says they recently watched a group of passengers get penalised for doing the same.
Hacks and alternatives
Some travellers stuff clothes into hollow neck pillows or roll garments into a sausage shape and tie them around their neck to maximise their allowance. However, writer Matthew Klint warns: 'Be prepared to pay up if you get “caught” with the extra item.'
An inflatable neck pillow, which can be blown up once on board, may be a safer option to avoid extra charges. This also reduces the bulk you need to carry, especially if you have a small underseat backpack measuring 40×30×20 cm.
