Holiday warning after passenger banned from flight over viral packing trick

Holidaymakers have been warned against using a viral travel hack after one passenger ended up banned from their flight.

Budget travelers on airlines like Ryanair or Wizz Air know the struggle of baggage allowance. Do you endure wearing five layers of clothes at the airport or pay an extra £20 for a second carry-on bag? It’s a tough decision we all face.

Of course, where there’s a rule, there’s someone finding a loophole. One such trick making the rounds on social media is the viral ‘pillow hack.’ This involves stuffing clothes into pillowcases or neck pillows to avoid extra bag fees. Videos suggest that pillows are considered ‘comfort items’ by airports, meaning you wouldn’t have to pay for an extra bag.

However, airports have caught on to this poorly kept secret, leading to one traveler’s holiday ending sooner than expected. In a TikTok clip shared by @natashaorganic, a traveler at Orlando International Airport was seen arguing with airport security after trying to board with a pillowcase full of clothes.

“Stop letting social media give you tips and tricks because sometimes it’s not gonna work,” Natasha said in the clip, while filming the argument.

“This dude was trying to take in a pillowcase full of clothing and other items, claiming it was just a pillowcase. But airport staff were like, ‘Come on, everyone can see it’s not a pillow,'” she continued.

“They gave him the chance to pay for it. He waited until the doors were about to close to say he’d pay, then tried to force his way onto the plane.”

Airport security eventually called the police to handle the passenger after he refused to back down.

“And he ended up getting escorted out. So stop listening to the internet,” Natasha added.

Viewers were quick to share their thoughts in the comments, with many shocked that someone would risk trouble at the airport.

“The airport is the one place I’m making sure I’m a model citizen. Are people not afraid of felonies and the no-fly list?” one person wrote. Another added that being on the ‘no-fly list’ is worse than having a bad credit score.