Page 8 - IAV Digital Magazine #443

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
British Airways Boots Man Wearing Everything He Packed
By RJ Johnson
Ever since air- lines introduced baggage fees for luggage, passen- gers worldwide have done what they can to avoid them.
Most people just try to survive with what they can pack in a carry- on, but one man flying out of Iceland had a dif- ferent idea - just board the plane wearing every- thing you need. In passenger Ryan Carney William's case, that was 10 shirts and eight pairs of pants.
Unfortunately for Williams, British Airways wasn't too keen on the idea. In a video posted to Twitter, the would-be pas- senger filmed himself at Keflavik airport
wearing several layers of clothing. At least two sweaters (or pants possibly) are wrapped around his shoul- ders.
Williams wrote on Twitter that the $125 baggage fee had become too expensive for him after becom- ing homeless for over a week in Iceland.
“Come on, guys, look at this s***,” he says in the video. “They’re really having me dress like this to go on, and they won’t even let me go on.”
“Is it ’cause of what I look like?” he asked.
A second video shows Williams arguing with the gate agents, ask- ing them to
explain why he wasn't allowed on the flight. One agent can be seen holding up a finger, telling Williams he's not allowed to film them and threat- ens to call the police.
According to the Iceland Monitor, Williams says British Airways denied him a boarding pass, and security
allegedly used pepper spray before arresting him.
According to the British Airways website, those customers who book 'hand bag- gage only fares' are allowed to pay a fee at the airport in case they need to check an extra bag. The policy. Williams' ordeal wasn't over. When he returned to
Keflavik airport the next day to board a different flight, this time on easyJet, he was turned away.
“I was disruptive yesterday, appar- ently,” Williams said in a video posted on Jan. 11th. “I can’t board this flight again to go home. Trying to call my mom. Trying to call my
dad. Trying to call my stepdad. Trying to call my brother.”
A direct message exchange between Williams and easyJet's customer service representative revealed that Williams had been turned away based on the British Airways incident the day before. He was not eligible for a refund according to the airline's customer
service.
EasyJet later reversed that decision.
Williams eventu- ally made it home, but there's no word on whether all ten shirts and eight pairs of pants made it along with him.
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