NHS Doctor Banned from EasyJet Flight Over Bag Dispute
An NHS doctor has accused budget airline EasyJet of ruining her Christmas after being thrown off a flight to Spain in a heated baggage dispute, raising serious questions about airline staff conduct and passenger treatment.
Dr Vana Katsomitrou was barred from her £160 Christmas Eve flight to Alicante despite her bag allegedly fitting comfortably within the airline's size requirements. The incident has sparked outrage over the treatment of a hardworking NHS professional who serves our nation's health service.
Christmas Plans Destroyed
The Wembley Park doctor was travelling to join friends for a four-day holiday when the confrontation erupted at London Luton Airport. After being challenged over her backpack size, Dr Katsomitrou removed a denim jacket to ensure compliance with regulations.
"The bag fit the box very comfortably," she explained. However, when she attempted to demonstrate this to staff by touching an employee's arm, the situation escalated dramatically.
The airline worker allegedly shouted "don't touch me" and accused the doctor of harassment, despite witnesses reportedly seeing no threatening behaviour. Even after Dr Katsomitrou offered to pay the £60 excess baggage fee and apologised profusely, EasyJet staff refused to allow her to board.
Professional Reputation Under Attack
The incident is particularly concerning given Dr Katsomitrou's professional standing as an NHS doctor. "I'm really careful about how I speak to people, I work for the NHS and I'm always careful not to say something that will offend people," she stated.
The doctor spent Christmas alone after being unable to find alternative flights, losing money on accommodation, taxis, and other pre-paid arrangements. Her friends had already travelled ahead, leaving her isolated during what should have been a festive reunion.
Corporate Intransigence
EasyJet's response has been equally troubling. Despite Dr Katsomitrou's complaint and photographic evidence, the airline maintained its position, claiming she behaved "disruptively" and that staff "felt threatened."
The company offered a paltry £13 refund and refused to provide details of their investigation "for security reasons," whilst claiming they took her feedback seriously. This corporate stonewalling raises questions about accountability in Britain's aviation sector.
An EasyJet spokesperson defended their actions: "Our ground crew will check that bags are within the maximum dimensions to ensure they fit where they need to be stowed in the cabin and in fairness to customers who have booked to bring additional luggage. As Ms Katsomitrou behaved disruptively towards our team at the gate, she was refused travel."
Trust in Budget Airlines Questioned
This incident highlights growing concerns about customer service standards among budget carriers operating from British airports. The treatment of a dedicated NHS professional, who has likely worked tirelessly serving patients throughout the pandemic, reflects poorly on corporate Britain's values.
Dr Katsomitrou has vowed never to fly EasyJet again unless it becomes "a matter of life and death," joining countless British travellers who have lost faith in budget airline practices.
The case raises fundamental questions about passenger rights, staff training, and corporate responsibility in an industry that increasingly treats customers as revenue streams rather than valued clients deserving of basic courtesy and fairness.
