Airline baggage hack backfires, leaving passenger unable to fly

A travel trick promoted online as a way to avoid airline baggage fees left one passenger unable to fly. He tried to board with a pillowcase stuffed with clothes and other items, insisting it was simply a pillow.

The so-called “pillowcase hack” involves filling a pillowcase with T-shirts, sweaters and other soft clothing. Travellers rely on the idea that some airlines treat a pillow as a comfort item that does not incur an extra charge.

Amanda Parker, a travel expert at Netflights, said airlines already know about the tactic. “By stuffing a regular pillowcase with soft clothing, such as T-shirts or sweaters, they essentially create a travel ‘pillow’ that they hope to bring on unnoticed,” she said. But an unusually bulky pillowcase can immediately raise suspicion.

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By stuffing a regular pillowcase with soft clothing, such as T-shirts or sweaters, they essentially create a travel ‘pillow’ that they hope to bring on unnoticed

“Trying this pillowcase trick risks delaying the boarding process or even being denied boarding if you cannot pay the additional fee,” Parker warned. Some low-cost airlines explicitly state that any item used to carry personal belongings counts as baggage, even if it is disguised as something else.

A witness described the passenger arguing with airport staff in a TikTok video after the contents of the pillowcase were discovered. Staff gave him the option of paying for extra baggage, but he delayed until the aircraft doors were closing. He then agreed to pay and tried to force his way onto the plane, the witness said. Police were eventually called.

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Trying this pillowcase trick risks delaying the boarding process or even being denied boarding if you cannot pay the additional fee