PASSENGERS have been left fuming after being forced to check in their hand luggage – only to find the overhead lockers empty anyway.

Several disgruntled travellers took to social media to share their fury – targeted at multiple airlines.

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One United Airlines passenger posted on X: “thank you for stopping me on the jetway saying the overhead bins are full and I have to check my bag.

“Really appreciate you lying to our faces to save yourself time but cost me time on the backend.”

The passenger went on to say they’d been forced to part ways with their bag despite paying for priority boarding.

They said: “Glad priority boarding comes with no perks anymore.”

Another passenger, who had boarded an American Airlines flight from San Luis Obispo, USA to Dallas, USA, wrote: “So angry rn @AmericanAir.

“Was just forced to gate check my roll aboard because I was told the overhead space was full.

“This is the overhead bin directly across from my seat. #AmateurHour.”

A second American Airlines customer posted a picture of empty overhead lockers to the r/americanairlines subreddit, saying: “Weird experience with gate agent checking bags.”

It comes as European passengers learn they will likely experience a hike in flight prices as several airlines bump up hidden costs.

This includes an increase in seat reservation prices by the Lufthansa group – affecting Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss Air.

Meanwhile, Wizz Air passengers were furious to discover their flights had been cancelled amid a confusing “technical issue” impacting the airline’s booking system.

This came after a frustrating summer for flyers, with 40,000 Brits affected by ongoing air traffic control issues last month.

However, jet-setters did receive the more encouraging update that airlines across Europe were working to set standardised rules for hand luggage dimensions.

United Airlines and American Airlines have both been contacted by the Sun for comment.

A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the types of passenger he hates the most – and it happens before travellers even get on board.

“Gate lice” is the derogatory term give to those passengers who lurk around the airport gate well before it’s time to actually start boarding.

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It seems the phrase originated in a 2005 FlyerTalk discussion forum where one user coined the phrase to denote those who wait close to the gate so they can board as early as possible and ensure they get plenty of overhead bin space.

Brian Hart Hoffman, who was a flight attendant for eight years with US Airways and Alaska Airlines, told the Thrillist: “I absolutely hate gate lice.

“There is no need for it and it absolutely hinders the flow of boarding.”

He added those people who engage in this behaviour were making themselves “appear like [they] are more important than anyone else flying.”

Brian said that not only can gate lice delay take-off by stopping people from boarding but they can also prevent people from getting off the incoming flight.

He said: “Some of the dedicated ‘lice’ are in place and blocking things while the airplane is being deplaned from the inbound flight.”

Other experts agree with Brian’s point of view, saying that gate lice can cause delays to both people getting on or off a flight.

Flight attendant Rich Henderson, who is also the creator of Two Guys on a Plane said that gate lice sometimes also prevent the crew or cleaners from getting on a plane, also causing delays.

Samantha Facteau, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines, said crowding the gate can make it difficult for those who need assistance to reach the gate and for those with mobility devices to get by.

Uncover Mental Health Counselling psychologist Kristie Tse said that “crowding the gate often stems from a mix of anxiety and a desire for control.”

She added: “Individuals may feel an overwhelming urge to secure their position, fearing they might miss out or face consequences if they don’t act quickly.

“This behaviour can indicate underlying insecurities or a lack of trust in the process.”

Frequent traveller Pip Davidson said that for him, anxiety is definitely a motivator as he gets stressed and is “hypersensitive” to crowds.

He said: “The actions and behaviour of a crowd [at the airport] can be overwhelming and trigger heightened anxiety that causes me to feel more alert and more worried.”

As a way to cope with this, he lingers by the gate before boarding.

Pip also noticed that his “gate anxiety” was triggered by other gate lice.

He said there was a “ripple effect” where numerous people start to head towards the gate.

Pip said that once one person started to head towards the gate, “that triggers another person to worry that they’re being cut in line, and that causes another person to have the same worry.”

SECRET CABIN CREW WORDS

Flight attendants have a special language they use to talk about passengers, including the ones they find attractive.

There are a number of other secret phrases used by pilots and cabin crew too, some serious and others less so.

• Cropdusting: If a passenger is being very rude and difficult, then it’s not unheard of for a flight attendant to break wind and ‘cropdust’ past the offender.
• Code Adam: This is used by airport staff to alert other staff of a missing child, in honour of Adam Walsh, a child who was abducted in a department store in 1981.
• 7500: If a pilot “squawks 7500” it means the plane has been hijacked, or a hijacking is a threat.
• Crosscheck: If you hear this phrase, usually made by senior cabin crew, it means that the emergency slides attached to each door have been deactivated.

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MOROCCO has become more popular as a holiday destination in recent years, especially as a winter sun destination.

But those looking to beat the crowds and for an even cheaper alternative to Marrakesh, might want to consider visiting Taroudant.

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The city, which is sometimes called ‘Little Marrakesh’, is known for its impressive red-mud walls and views of the High Atlas Mountains.

As its nickname suggests, it’s much smaller in size than Marrakesh, and also considered calmer and less crowded.

Many visitors say it offers one of the most authentic experiences of every day Moroccan life.

Taroudant and Marrakesh bear many similarities – both cities have rich cultures that are influenced by Berber tradition and Islamic civilisations, and they have medinas (old towns) and souks (open air marketplaces).

But Taroudant also has its own unique features, including its walls, landmarks and location.

For a short time in the 16th century, Taroudant was the capital of Morocco. Its location between two mountain ranges was why it was chosen.

To defend it, a huge wall was built around the city, which today are among the best preserved in Morocco.

Made of honeyed stone, the walls are seven kilometres long and encircle the entire medina.

The best time to visit the walls is at sunset to see the low light make the stone glow.

And the best way to see the walls is to walk, bike or take a horse-drawn carriage, known as a calèche.

Taroudant’s landmarks include Palais Caludio Bravo, famous for being the former home of Chilean painter Claudio Bravo.

The palace houses a large collection of his works, as well as other artists, including Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso.

Its architecture is noteworthy as it’s made up of several wings and structures connected by courtyards and covered passages.

The palace’s beautiful garden is a mini-replica of the famous Menara garden in Marrakesh, with trails, sculptures and exotic plants dotted around.

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Taroudant has a good location because it’s close to many other attractions, making it a good base for exploring the surrounding area.

Marrakesh is about a three and a half our drive away, and Skoura, an oasis town on the way to the desert, is about a five hour journey east.

The coastal resort of Agadir, with an international airport, is about an hour’s drive west, and Essaouira, with a pretty beach and coastal medina, is about a four hour journey northwest.

Tarroudant is also located at the foot of the Atlas mountains, making it a good base for hiking

When it comes to places to stay, there are lots of luxurious 4* hotels for cheap prices.

Domaine Villa Talaa is a 4* hotel with an outdoor pool, spa and wellness centre, gardens with mountain views, and lots of activities, such as ping-pong, walking tours, bike tours and cooking classes.

Prices for two adults for one night start from £75.

Dar Zitoune is another 4* hotel built in the Berber style using local materials.

It’s set in four acres of landscaped grounds with olive, papaya, and citrus trees, has a large heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a spa, and a gourmet restaurant that serves a mix of Moroccan and Western specialities.

Prices for two adults for one night start from £99.

Flights from London Gatwick to Agadir, the nearest airport, are also good value.

At the beginning of November, a one way flight with easyJet starts from £22.99.

Marrakesh was recently named the best city for a budget friendly Autumn break.

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A PRETTY seaside town has compared to Cornwall – with a very arty history.

Collioure, in France, has inspired a number of artists including Picasso and Matisse.

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Now dubbed the City of Painters, the Museum of Modern Art continues on the legacy.

As many as three million tourists visit a year, despite having just 3,000 locals.

It was even named France‘s favourite village, in a local competition that has ben running for more than a decade.

Expect influences from both France and Catalonia – it is 15 miles from the Spanish border.

Otherwise it is worth just walking through the multicoloured streets, full of cafes, shops and galleries.

Don’t leave without trying some local Collioure’s anchovies and locally-made white and red wines.

A tourist said it was “one of the prettiest towns in France,” while another said it “could be compared to St Ives in Cornwall“

One of the main attractions is the 800-year-old Meiveal castle, Château Royal de Collioure which is easy to walk to and has the best views of the town.

Anna Richards, who lives in France, said of the village to inews: “So many artists have set up studios that every narrow street feels like a gallery.

“There are hundreds of different kaleidoscopic interpretations of the town, the harbour and the Mediterranean Sea.

“Its two beaches include a crescent of custard-coloured, slightly shingly sand between the harbour and bell tower, and Plage de Port d’Avall, the other side of the Château Royal, which is framed by houses as colourful as an artist’s palette.”

The Château Royal looks like a sandcastle between them, angular and built in blocks, as though it’s made from Lego.

The best way to get there is to fly to Perpignan Airport, with direct UK flights from both London Stansted and Birmingham.

Collioure is just 20 minutes from there by train.

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If you want an affordable stay, there is a Eurocamp just 15 miles away which the Sun’s Joel Davis visited.

Here’s another quaint village in France that is often named the country’s most beautiful.

A tiny French island is a popular place for locals to visit – that Brits may not have heard of.

And here’s the holiday region dubbed the French Cotswolds.

WITH its sun-drenched beaches, world-class wine-ries and majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop, Cape Town has long been a dream destination.

Now there’s even more reason to visit South Africa’s Mother City as it has been named the best value long-haul holiday destination in Post Office Travel Money’s latest Long Haul Holiday Report.

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The city has reclaimed the top spot after a six-year hiatus thanks to a perfect storm of favourable conditions.

Local price drops combined with a weaker South African rand have led to a 12 per cent decrease in costs for British visitors since last autumn.

At £55.59 for a basket of ten tourist staples — including meals and drinks — it offers unbeatable value.

To put into perspective just how cheap holidays here have become, they are over 14 per cent cheaper than last year’s best value destination, Hoi An in Vietnam.

While Cape Town takes the spotlight, the report reveals interesting trends across other long-haul destinations.

The Far East continues to be a wallet-friendly option, with three destinations in the top five.

Tokyo, Japan, has jumped into second place, with its basket of staples price falling by 13.5 per cent to £64.07.

Despite a 21 per cent increase, Hoi An still manages to secure third place at £64.80.

Bali, Indonesia, comes in fourth with a basket cost of £67.70, down eight per cent from last year.

For those eyeing the Caribbean, there’s a mix of good and bad news.

While most Caribbean destinations did not make it into the top ten, Montego Bay, Jamaica, sneaked in at tenth place with a total of £93.74, down 9.4 per cent from last year.

However, Barbados saw the biggest price drop of all destinations surveyed, with costs in St James falling by 18.5 per cent to £141.29.

The report is great news for British travellers in general.

Thanks to the strength of sterling against most long-haul currencies, prices have fallen in over half of the destinations surveyed compared to last year.

This means your pounds will stretch further in many popular winter sun spots.

However, not all destinations offer equal value.

Priciest place to dine

The report reveals significant price variations across the 32 surveyed locations.

Australia, for instance, features four cities in the bottom ten, with Sydney emerging as the most expensive destination overall.­

A three-course meal with a bottle of wine in Sydney will set you back nearly £117, making it the priciest place to dine out.

Other expensive destinations include Costa Rica and New York, both coming in at over £160 for the basket of goods. Orlando, Florida, offers far better value than New York, with prices 57 per cent lower for the same items.

For budget-conscious travellers, it’s worth noting that prices have increased in some traditionally affordable destinations.

Hoi An saw the biggest price hike, while Mombasa, Kenya, experienced a near 14 per cent increase.

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The report also covers the way many of us instinctively measure our holiday exchange rates — the cost of a beer.

If you’re looking to enjoy a lager without breaking the bank, head to St George’s, Grenada, where a bottle of local beer will cost you £1.50.

Other cheap beer destinations include Hoi An (£1.53), Cape Town (£1.81) and Scarborough, Tobago (£1.83).

On the flip side, if you are not watching your wallet, Downtown Dubai tops the list of most expensive beer destinations at £7.55 per bottle, followed by Darwin, Australia, at £6.40.