A HOLIDAYMAKER has lashed out at Ryanair staff for charging him £75 because his suitcase was “too big”.

Austin Price, 28, was preparing to jet off to Krakow from Bristol Airport on October 4 when airline workers asked him to stuff his luggage into a measuring stand.

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The traveller, from Plymouth, claimed the bag fit in the gap – but the “wonky” wheels did not.

Cyber security worker Austin then alleged that a “rather rude” Ryanair employee demanded he cough up an eye watering add-on fee.

The holidaymaker shamed the brand online in a post, ranting: “What kind of f**ery is this? Just been charged £75 for a bag which clearly fits. Sort this s*** out.”

However, the holidaymaker’s snaps appear to show the suitcase stuck out at the front.

The apparent error appeared to miss that Ryanair’s website states 10kg bags must fit within the three dimensions – 55 x 40 x 20cm – and his appeared to be deeper than the permitted 20cm.

Ryanair defended the decision, stating that the “passenger’s bag exceeded the dimensions allowed’ for a 10kg cabin bag and was “correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee of £75.”

Austin slammed the employee for “trying too much to do his job”.

He then claimed: “We had priority, with which you get one hand luggage bag and one small suitcase. I used the same suitcase I have probably used for the last three years.

“When boarding, there was one individual [member of staff] that was rather rude.

“There was a guy that was asked to put his backpack in the box and the worker’s response was that he has an attitude problem.

“The guy had his headphones on so he did not even hear him. He seemed confused; he had to put his backpack in when it obviously fit.

“They have changed the [measuring] boxes now. Before, you could wheel the suitcase in, while the new ones are like an open gap, almost like they are trying to catch people out.

“My suitcase was the size that fit in the gap and I have a photo of it sitting in, but because the wheels area a bit stiff it wouldn’t sit flat because of the weight of the wheels.

“The wheels are not the size of the suitcase. I said it clearly fits in but he said that I have to pay.

“I thought it was only going to be around £28 as it is on their website and I thought ‘that’s annoying but I’ll take the hit, gave my bank details and all of a sudden I got charged £75.”

Austin was angry at how much he was charged after already paying for Priority boarding so he could take on the 10kg case.

The customer then wrote a seething email to the budget airline.

However he claims they simply responded informing him how much he had to pay.

Austin said: “I sent an email and the response was sh*t.

“They obviously didn’t read what I wrote in the email because the response I got was them stating how much I have to pay but that’s not what I asked.

“I have already paid and was told that I shouldn’t have paid so I wanted a refund.

“I literally used it a month ago with easyjet. I flew with Ryanair in April with the same bag and had no issues.”

However Ryanair pointed out that the suitcase simply didn’t fit in the ‘fit to fly’ measuring box.

A spokesperson for the airlin said: “This passenger’s bag exceeded the dimensions allowed for a 10kg cabin bag and was correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee of £75 to carry a 10kg cabin bag onboard.”

The Sun Online has reached out to Ryanair for comment.

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WITH Christmas right around the corner, plenty of Brits will be stocking up on tubs of chocolate, but if you’re looking for a Quality Street fix before December then head to West Yorkshire.

The town of Halifax is known as “toffee town,” thanks to its ties to the very well-known chocolate brand.

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In 1890, John and Violet Mackintosh opened a sweet shop in the Yorkshire town, with their toffee recipe becoming a huge hit.

Their first Mackintosh factory burnt down in 1909 and a second one was built in Albion, where it still makes sweets today.

Then in 1936, the couple’s son Harold Mackintosh invented Quality Street, changing the face of Christmas snacking forever.

Harold Mackintosh named Quality Street after J. M Barrie’s play of the same name, with the company also inventing well-known chocolate bars Rolo and Toffee Crisp.

Unlike Birmingham’s Cadbury World, visitors can’t take tours of the Quality Street factory.

But fortunately, you don’t need to get a job at the factory to see how the chunks of chocolate are decorated in their shiny wrappers because Calderdale Industrial Museum is home to its very own Quality Street wrapping machine.

Set over four floors, Calderdale Industrial Museum is dedicated to showcasing all of the industrial heritage of the area and the machines that were used to do so.

The Quality Street machine is located on the museum’s first floor, with a volunteer putting the piece of kit through its paces.

Youtuber Epic Waltzer Vlogz UK! recorded the machine in action, with a volunteer placing chunks of chocolate inside before they’re wrapped in gold foil.

One previous visitor t the museum said on TripAdvisor: “We explored the history of confectionary making, and a volunteer demonstrated a Quality Street wrapping machine (and gave us a free chocolate).

“There were volunteers present at all of the exhibits, and all were extremely knowledgeable and extremely interesting to talk to.”

There are plenty of other pieces of machinery inside the Yorkshire-based museum too, including a textile machine that makes the covers for bus seats.

One person wrote on TripAdvisor: “This is the best museum we have been to because, unlike many other places, the people who volunteer here are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and proud of their history.”

Calderdale Industrial Museum is open every Saturday from 10am until 4pm, with entry costing £7.50 for full-paying adults, with accompanied kids going free.

The historic market town rose to fame during the Industrial Revolution as a centre for wool trade, it’s also known as the birthplace of the banking giant Halifax.

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In the mid-19th century, a small group set up an investment and loan society at the Old Cock Inn in Halifax, which is still there to this day.

Its rich heritage is reflected in its grand Victorian architecture and enduring cultural landmarks, including Piece Hall – a Grade I-listed Georgian building that’s the oldest cloth hall in the world.

Standing at the heart of Halifax since 1779, the open-air courtyard is surrounded by independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. 

The Piece Hall is also home to its own fairytale tower, which stands at the back of the building.

Meanwhile, Halifax’s Town Hall has been compared to a wedding cake by visitors because of its tier-like structure and white stone facade.

Shibden Hall is another historic landmark in the town, with the half-timbered building originally dating back to the 15th century.

For over 300 years, the building was the home of the Lister family, with 19th century diarist Anne Lister considered its most famous resident.

Entry tickets cost £10 for a full-paying adult and £7.50 for a child.

Other attractions in Halifax include Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, the award-winning museum is home to over 400 interactive exhibits designed for kids.

There’s also Halifax Minster, Bankfield Museum and the Victoria Theatre where a range of plays, concerts and shows are held.

Halifax is home to the Victorian Craft Beer Cafe, an award-winning pub that opened in 2014 that serves a range of beers and ales.

Other restaurants in Halifax include Temujin, which serves Mongolian food, and Sapore, which is considered to be one of the town’s best Italian restaurants.

Halifax is a 30-minute drive from Bradford, and it’s an hour’s drive from Manchester.

The Yorkshire town can also be reached on a direct train from York, where journeys take just under two hours.

Earlier this year, Halifax Bus Station was also named Transport Project of the year, with judges praising its design.

Meanwhile, this seaside town in England – with sandy beaches, donkey rides & the best B&B in the world.

And this other holiday location is getting a huge new tourist attraction.

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A VICTORIAN attraction in the UK is to be home to the country’s tallest Christmas tree.

Cragside, a National Trust property, has been dubbed Britain’s first smart home after being owned by inventor William Armstrong.

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It was even used as a filming location in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, being used as Lockwood Manor.

And this year it will be the home of the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree.

The tallest tree was previously found at Kew Gardens – but this 42ft Giant Redwood is the height of 10 double-decker buses.

Also twice the size of the Angel of the North, it will be decked out with 2,000 Christmas tree lights.

The property is already home to some super tall trees, including the tallest Scots pine in the UK.

Guests can visit from November 20, 2024 until January 5, 2025, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

National Trust visitor operations and experiences manager Steve Howard told local press: “When it comes to trees, Cragside is the land of the giants.

“Many of the trees were selected for their enormous size once at maturity and now the grounds are home to some of the tallest trees of their kind in the country including a Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and Noble Fir.”

It’s not the only festive event taking place at the attraction.

The Twilight Lantern Walk is a sparkling route through lit-up trees, with woodland animals “hiding” along the way.

The huge tree is then found at the end of the trail.

There is also Cragside’s Spirits of the Forest which will see the house go under a “magical spell”.

The Drawing Room is being transformed into a cave while the rest of the house will be decorated festively.

Tickets for the lantern walk must be booked ahead and are separate.

Outside of Christmas, the stately home has an adventure playground, a Pinetum with waterfalls and a tea room.

If you’re already in the mood for Christmas, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know including:

Otherwise Jet2 has launched holiday packages to two new Christmas destinations – one of which has £2 beers.

And here is Europe’s ‘Christmas City’ with one of the oldest markets in the world.

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GRENADA is often overlooked as a holiday destination – despite direct UK flights and being one of the safest islands.

And the Caribbean destination is set to be big next year, according to experts.

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Around 180,000 tourists visited the island in 2023 – compared to 1.26million visiting Aruba.

According to Grenada Tourism, while more than half of tourists are America, UK tourists are higher in luxury resorts.

Grenada Tourism CEO Petra Roach said: “The British visitor will stay longer which means their contribution is quite strong.

“We really want to continue to focus on this and grow the market more.”

New resorts have opened in this year, including Six Senses La Sagesse in the south of the island, with 56 pool suites and 15 villas.

There was also Silversands Beach House, with 28 suites on top of a cliff, so expect amazing views.

Otherwise the already opened Silversands Grand Ans is home to the Caribbean‘s longest pool, with an 100 metre infinity pool.

And new in 2026 will be a third Silversands resort as well as an InterContinental hotel.

Luxury travel experts have also said Grenada is to be a big destination for 2025.

OvationNetwork travel advisor Sylvia Lebovitch told Forbes: “With the opening of the new Six Senses La Sagasse and the Silversands Beach House, Grenada is back on the map.”

Grenada is known for being a great place for chocolate lovers, with six cocoa plantations on the island.

Every May, there is even the annual Grenada Chocolate Festival with workshops and activities as well as free samples.

It doesn’t have to be a pricey holiday either, with this year’s Post Office report finding a bottle of beer will cost you just £1.50 on Grenada.

Don’t skip out on the rum either, the Grenada being home to the oldest rum distillery in the Caribbean.

Otherwise the island is also known for its beautiful waterfalls, one of the most famous being Annadelle Falls, as well as turtle watching and diving.

With 40 beaches to choose from, make sure to visit Grand Anse Beach, named one of the World’s 50 Beaches.

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You might even spot some celebs. Back in 2019, Robert Downey Jr was spotted on the island, with other famous faces including Morgan Freeman and Eric Clapton.

And Richard Branson also visited the island to celebrate the launch of Virgin flights to Grenada back in 2002.

Flights from the UK can be found from London Heathrow, taking around 11 hours.

Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer the routes, with a short one-hour stop in Barbados although passengers remain on the plane.

They also both offer package holidays, along with TUI who have seven nights from £1,271pp.

Sun Travel goes to Grenada

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Hayley Coyle visited Grenada earlier this year.

“A ten-hour flight away from the UK, Grenada is touted by locals and returning holidaymakers as the “safest island in the West Indies”.

“It is arguably the friendliest, too, with everyone eager to wax lyrical about their homeland.

“I was spoilt by Grenada’s intensely rich, dark chocolate — for the Land of Spice, as it’s known, is also home to six trailblazing cocoa plantations.

“Cacao — the raw, unroasted version of cocoa — is grown within 20 degrees of the equator and this island’s warm weather, rainforests and mountains provide the ideal environment for it to thrive.

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“May is the perfect time for a chocoholic to visit, when the annual Grenada Chocolate Festival is in full swing.

“So, if you are looking for a treat during Easter, why not ditch the eggs and splash out on a trip to this island?”

We’ve found the cheapest Caribbean island for all-inclusive holidays, which are as little as £774pp.

But if you don’t want to go that far, here is the holiday destination a few hours from the UK dubbed the “cheaper Caribbean”.

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AN AIRPORT in New Zealand has introduced a time limit on how long passengers can say goodbye to their loved ones.

Dunedin Airport on New Zealand‘s South Island has imposed a three-minute time limit on cuddles in its drop-off zone.

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The tongue-in-cheek policy has been introduced to help improve passenger flow in the drop-off zone.

A sign in the drop-off area reads: “Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park.”

The sign was introduced in a bid to avoid the usual threats and fines passengers will have seen previously in the airport.

Dan De Bono, who is the chief executive of Dunedin Airport, told Radio New Zealand: “We’re trying to have fun with it. It is an airport and those drop off locations are common locations for farewells.

“There’s no space left for others. It’s about enabling others to have hugs.”

Even with its cheeky tone, the new sign has caused a stir among both locals and passengers, leaving some stunned.

In a post on Facebook, one person wrote: “Good, Lord! They’re trying to regulate everything, aren’t they?!”

While on a separate post, another user commented: “You can’t put a time limit on hugs, that’s inhumane.”

Other social media users didn’t see a problem with the three-minute time limit, with one writing: “I love it. It shows warmth and compassion.”

Back in 2016, Aalborg Airport in Denmark introduced nearly identical signage, limiting kissing and hugging to three minutes.

AIRPORT DROP-OFF CHARGES

Earlier this year, an exclusive report by The Sun revealed that drop-off charges at some airports had surged by up to 20 per cent compared to the previous year.

The report compared the cost of drop-off fees at 28 UK airports, with seven upping their charges.

These included Aberdeen Airport, Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport, Gatwick Airport, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport.

Bristol Airport upped its costs by £1, with a 30-minute stay now costing £6.

Drop-off prices also increased at Gatwick Airport, with 15-minute stays costing passengers £6.

In Scotland, Aberdeen Airport increased its charge from £5 to £5.50.

And over in Glasgow, Glasgow Airport increased its 15-minute drop-off by 50p up to £5.50, and Glasgow Prestwick’s rose by 50p to £4.

Leeds Bradford Airport also increased its charge to £6.50 for a 10-minute stay.

The highest airport drop-off cost was at Stansted Airport where passengers are charged £7 for a stay of up to 15 minutes.

Almost all UK airports charge drivers a minimum of £3 to drop off passengers, with some airports fining motorists who fail to pay the charge.

According to the report, Inverness, Newquay and Cardiff airports don’t impose a drop-off charge.

Meanwhile, here are the eight hidden airport charges adding up to £592 to your holiday bills – and how to avoid them.

Travellers love this bag that they claim prevents them from having to pay for hand luggage.

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