Texas traveler stages convincing ruse to avoid Ryanair’s charges
Airline baggage fees have long been a source of frustration for travelers, but one passenger found an unconventional way to bypass them—by pretending to be pregnant.
Grace Hale, a 20-year-old from Dallas, Texas, recently pulled off the stunt while flying with Ryanair from England to Scotland. By strategically tucking her belongings under her clothing, she created the illusion of a pregnancy bump.
Planning the ruse
Speaking to What’s The Jam, Hale revealed the extent of her preparation. “It was so funny. I Googled what pregnancy bumps looked like at different months and how far along I’d be,” she said.
To make her deception more believable, Hale decided on a “26-week pregnancy” since Ryanair requires a doctor’s note for women who are 28 weeks pregnant or beyond.
She also documented her experience on TikTok, and her stunt was later reported by The New York Post.
The motivation behind the trick
Hale’s decision to fake a pregnancy was driven by rising airline baggage fees. Ryanair passengers can face charges ranging from $50 to $80 for excess luggage. Other airlines, including Air Canada and Southwest, have also implemented new baggage policies in recent months.
For Hale, paying extra simply wasn’t an option. “It’s ridiculously expensive if you want to take a bag on a Ryanair flight. I like to take ten options for a three-day trip,” she told The Jam.
Executing the plan
Faced with the dilemma of excess luggage, she improvised by stuffing a makeup bag and jackets under her top just before boarding. “We were running late and the flight was so early. I was scrambling and packing on the train to the airport, then I realized that the jackets and makeup bag weren’t going to fit. I thought I’d act like I was pregnant. What would they say?” she recalled.
To ensure her disguise held up, she rehearsed the trick at a train station before arriving at the airport. She carefully wrapped the jackets around the makeup bag, making sure nothing would slip out and reveal her ploy.
A successful landing
Hale’s plan worked seamlessly—she boarded the flight and arrived in Edinburgh without any issues. Later, she joked about the incident on social media, saying that it was a boy and that “we’re naming him Ryan” in a nod to Ryanair.
Her stunt has since gone viral, sparking debates online about airline baggage fee policies and the creative ways passengers try to evade extra charges.
