A Ryanair passenger was so determined to avoid a ‘stupid’ £50 fine for excess baggage that he wore five layers of his own clothes.
Connor Kirk, 25, was ready to board his flight back from Lanzarote last week when he says he was told his carry-on duffel bag was too large and he’d have to pay the fine.
But rather than cough up the extra cash, Mr Kirk simply began piling on extra layers until his bag was small enough to be within the airline’s requirements.
The holidaymaker was filmed as he began pulling out items of clothing and pulling them over his outfit.
In total, he put three shirts and a jacket over his vest top and managed to pull on three pairs of shorts.
Connor Kirk, 25, was ready to board his flight back from Lanzarote last week when he says he was told his carry-on duffel bag was too large
In total, he put three shirts and a jacket over his vest top and managed to pull on three pairs of shorts
Connor, from Shirebrook, was on holiday with his sister Michaela and their mother
Mr Kirk says Ryanair should allow larger bags on board for free – as his mother still ended up paying the extra £50
The holidaymaker’s ploy drew comparisons to the episode of hit TV show Friends where Joey dons Chandler’s entire wardrobe.
Footage shows a staff member and fellow passengers laughing as he completes the bulging multi-coloured outfit.
The clip of his clothes-wearing antics at Arrecife Airport has gone viral, racking up more than 9,000 views on Facebook.
Mr Kirk claims that when he was let through by bemused staff other holidaymakers cheered and when he repacked the bag before take-off it still fit under his seat.
Despite finding the situation funny, he says Ryanair should allow larger bags to be carried on board for free.
Mr Kirk, from Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire, said: ‘When they told me the hand luggage was too big I had a little bit of an argument with them.
‘I then just said: “Right, I’ll wear my clothes then”.
‘They told me I could do it without expecting me to, so I took everything out of the bag and put three tops on, a jacket on and I had a vest on then I put three pairs of shorts on.
‘I wasn’t paying £50 to get back into my own country. I’d spent enough on holiday as it was, it’s stupid.
‘Everyone was laughing but I didn’t mind it. I wasn’t embarrassed at all. I’m quite outgoing like that anyway.
Mr Kirk livened up his fellow passengers’ trip back to the UK and admitted the situation was comical
The scene has been likened to a popular episode of Friends in which Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes
Mr Kirk, who also had a suitcase in the plane’s hold, had been holidaying in Lanzarote with his sister Mikhaela Kirk, 29, and their mum Kerry Kirk, 49, for five days
Mr Kirk said staff on their outbound flight to the island had no issues with the family’s luggage
‘I saw someone compare it to that scene from Friends where Joey is wearing loads of clothes.
‘I’m glad I did it and because it’s given people an idea. If I can save people money then why not?’
‘I think the size of the bags you can take on should be a little bit bigger because you can still fit the bag under your seat.’
Mr Kirk, who also had a suitcase in the plane’s hold, had been holidaying in Lanzarote with his sister Mikhaela Kirk, 29, and their mother Kerry Kirk, 49, for five days.
He insists staff didn’t have any issue with their carry-on bag ahead of their outbound flight from East Midlands Airport, Derbyshire.
Mr Kirk says his mother was forced to pay the return flight fine as her small carry-on bag was too large too and she didn’t want to copy her son’s cheeky stunt.
Mikhaela’s post, which included the video, read: ‘Our bags didn’t fit, so Connor decided to wear his clothes so the bag fit.
‘Everyone, and I mean everyone, was laughing their heads off at us and then when the bag fit, everyone started laughing and cheering! Honestly hilarious.
‘I can confirm only mum paid for her luggage. Me and Connor were not prepared to pay extra.’