Woman Tries To Bring ‘Normal’ Carry-On On Icelandair Flight. Then They Force Her To Pay $185 To Check It—And Nearly Everyone Else Too: ‘Did Us Dirty’

Knowing whether your carry-on will be allowed on the plane can be a bit of a guessing game. That’s why many rely on the same bag for every trip. But it’s still worth checking out the airline’s specifications. Particularly when you’re traveling abroad.

One woman learned that the hard way while flying Icelandair. 

In a TikTok that has amassed over 521,100 views, creator @totallyeclipsin says she’s swearing off the airline after her experience.

What Went Wrong With Her Icelandair Flight?

“Do not fly Icelandair, I know I won’t be in the future,” she wrote in the clip’s text overlay.

“They’re charging $185 to check my normal-size carry-on bag,” she says.

From the video alone, it’s hard to tell what the bag’s dimensions are and if it actually met Icelandair’s carry-on requirements.

She turns the camera toward several other similarly sized bags in front of her.

“Every single bag here,” she says. 

“They are charging pretty much every passenger to check normal sized carry on bags $185,” she wrote in the caption. “Will never fly Icelandair again and you shouldn’t either.”

Why Did Icelandair Ask Her to Check Her Bag?

A common carry-on size in the United States is 22 inches tall, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, according to U.S. Travel News.

That size is accepted by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines.

In Europe a commonly accepted size for carry-ons is roughly the same: 55 x 40 x 23 centimeters, or roughly 21.6 inches tall, 15.7 inches wide, and 9 inches deep. This the carry-on size restrictions for Lufthansa, for example. 

Icelandair’s limits are slightly different: 55 x 40 x 20 centimeters, or about 21.6 inches tall, 15.7 inches wide, and 7.8 inches deep.

The airline also caps carry-on weight at 22 pounds, or 10 kilograms, on international flights and 13 pounds, or 6 kilograms, on flights within Iceland. 

That means a bag that would be accepted as a carry-on for many European airlines might not be accepted by Icelandair.

Icelandair lists its carry-on rules on its website.

Viewers Don’t Blame the Airlines

Many people weren’t particularly sympathetic with @totallyeclipsin’s plight.

“That’s so weird how their baggage policy is stated on their website for everyone else to see but you,” one viewer wrote sarcastically.

“As someone who has flown Icelandair and been to Iceland multiple times.. this here is a u problem,” another stated. They have strict rules on their website and app stating directly that u will have to pay extra if ur bag is overweight. Since u didnt follow those rules then ofc they will charge u.”

Others were more willing to give her grace.

“Y’all are flaming her in the comments but how are you not agreeing that flight prices are INSANE and baggage and they are taking advantage lol,” one said.

A self-described flight attendant from Europe said they were surprised to see the size of American carry-ons.

“Yeah as a flight attendant. I was absolutely gobsmacked at the carry-on sizes I saw people using while travelling the states,” they wrote. “Including my American friends. They are not normal sizes at all.”

Have Other Icelandair Travelers Complained About Carry-On Rules?

Many Icelandair passengers seem to be aware of the airline’s policy regarding carry-on bags. Though some aren’t fans.

One Redditor on r/icelandair said it was difficult to even shop for a bag that fit every specification. They specifically ran into trouble with the depth requirement. 

“Even backpacks seem to all be at least 8” deep,” they wrote.

Another poster on r/VisitingIceland asked whether a duffel bag that was a little more than an inch deeper than Icelandair’s limit might still fly under the radar.

People warned that it probably wouldn’t.

“They made me pay $130 to check it and while they were figuring out charging us during boarding, everyone else was able to walk right in with their similar sized bag,” one wrote.

Another traveler asked on Tripadvisor, “Two legs of a long trip are with Icelandair, and their sizes for carry-ons and personal items are way smaller than other airlines we’ll be on. Do they really insist on these tiny bags?”

Icelandair and @totallyeclipsin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

@totallyeclipsin They are charging pretty much every passanger to check normal sized carry on bags $185. Will never fly Icelandair again and you shouldn’t either. #travel #scam #icelandair ♬ original sound – TotallyEclipsin