Ryanair’s recent changes to their policy that had allowed passengers take a cabin bag onboard for free, has meant an increase in cost for some travellers, who now have to pay £8/€8 to take a bag onboard.
However, one man came up with a genius way of bringing the contents of his wheelie bag onto the flight without paying the budget airline charges, by literally pinning everything into the lining of his coat and using it as a walking suitcase.
Customising an old coat, Lee fit the contents of his cabin bag into the lining. Image by Lee Cimino
Lee Cimino, from Staffordshire in the UK, was travelling to Belfast with his friend to celebrate his 30th birthday last weekend, two days after Ryanair’s new cabin baggage rules came into force. Having flown many times with the airline to destinations throughout Europe he wasn’t happy that the airline had changed their policy after he had already booked and paid for his flight.
Lee displays the inside of his coat having arrived in Belfast. Image by Lee Cimino
“Because I travel so often, I’m pretty clued up about on the luggage rules and what I need to bring,” he explained. So he decided to cram everything he needed for the weekend inside an old coat he had customised at a local tailors. With the help of the people at Sew Wot? in Stoke-on-Trent, Lee fitted all he needed for a one-night-stay inside his jacket. “I got toiletries, a clean jumper, jeans, shirt, socks and boxers. I even had room for a towel and pair of trainers!” he told Lonely Planet News.
According to Lee’s friend, he looked like a hipster in his coat at Manchester airport. Image by Lee Cimino
Lee made a video of himself putting it together, including what happened when he arrived at Manchester airport for his flight. The plan was to draw as little attention as possible, and he removed the coat and put it in a tray at the security check, where no comment was made. “I felt like I looked ridiculous but I wasn’t noticeable to anyone, my friend said I just looked like a hipster,” he laughs.
Lee wore his coat around Belfast when he visited sites like Titanic. Image by Lee Cimino
So does he think he will try it on his next trip? “Wearing a baggage coat again would not be a problem. It was so hassle-free and it fitted perfectly! I would recommend it to be honest,” he says. “Perhaps just a better styled coat next time!”
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