One Traveler's European Airline Carry-On Controversy Blew Up On Social Media

Let's face it: traveling with just one carry-on bag is easier than ever, especially when you're aware of TSA's carry-on luggage rules. So you've bought the perfect carry-on luggage, packed only the essentials, chosen mix-and-match outfits, and limited your liquids to a single, travel-approved bag. You're confident and ready to fly. But, as you breeze through the airport, a check-in agent stops you, eyeing your bag before asking you to place it in the metal size checker. Don't believe it? That's exactly what happened to one traveler flying within Europe. And her carry-on controversy has since sparked a wave of controversy across social media.

A recent TikTok video by user @summermken_official, aka Arina, has recently gone viral, racking up over 14 million views in just a few days. In the clip, Arina appears visibly frustrated as she struggles to shove her yellow carry-on suitcase into an airline's metal bag sizer at the check-in counter after being told it needed to meet size requirements. The caption reads, "Never give up, at least not on the sake of €200 (around $235)." As she forces the bag into the sizer, bits of the yellow suitcase scrape off. Once she's managed to make it fit, she wrestles it back out — glancing toward the counter with a defiant "I told you so" expression.

Arina told Newsweek that she was flying to London from Paris with the Spanish low-cost airline Vueling when the incident took place. "They asked me to place my bag in the checker to confirm it met size requirements," she said. "We had four of the same carry-on luggage and they told me to check three. It seemed that they were just suspicious of the size of my bag since it didn't seem like carry-on luggage."

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported in April 2025 that global air travel rose by 8% compared to April 2024. Alongside this growth, passenger load factors hit a record high of 83.6%. In other words, more travelers mean fuller flights. And, as a result, airlines are becoming stricter about enforcing carry-on baggage size rules.

Arina explains that she took extra care to ensure her luggage complied with Vueling's carry-on size policy. "I was [100%] sure that it would fit [...] it had the measurements required to do so written in its description, plus I measured it before buying and it fit the standards of the company." According to Vueling's official website, all passengers are allowed one free underseat cabin bag with maximum dimensions of 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.87 inches.

Popular European low-cost airline Ryanair also enforces a strict underseat cabin baggage policy. According to their official website, all fares include one small personal bag — such as a handbag or laptop bag — with maximum dimensions of 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.87 inches, which must fit under the seat in front of the passenger. However, The Independent recently reported that all European airlines have now agreed on a new standard, maximum size of 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.87 inches.

Arina's video has sparked a wave of reactions on TikTok, with many users applauding her determination and her bold stance against the airline. For example, user @travidvidlegradic commented: "Her face, that's [an] 'I told you' face." Meanwhile, @paddyjm1713 chimed in with a simple: "You go girl!" 

Another user, @banned.in.3.2.1, offered a more pointed take: "I think people get angry after they've taken the rules into consideration, followed them, and then are called scamming liars who lie. It's probably that." Meanwhile, @zawsky.edits praised Arina, calling her a "strong and independent woman."

Ultimately, packing light is a skill that every traveler should master. Not just for convenience, but also to avoid any surprise baggage fees — especially on low-cost airlines. However, the truth is that even the most careful planning doesn't always guarantee a smooth check-in experience. As seen in Arina's case, a suitcase that technically meets an airline's carry-on dimensions may still fall short of the more restrictive baggage requirements enforced by budget carriers. And, with airplanes getting fuller than ever, airlines are tightening enforcement to manage limited space. As a result, even the most well-prepared travelers may find themselves caught in stricter checks at the gate.