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Carry-on baggage on airplanes is one of the headaches that always brings controversy. Airlines are getting stricter and stricter, and many passengers consider the measures required of them to be abusive, ambiguous or downright wrong. But there are also certain products that you can introduce as an extra, without the need for a surcharge. That is the case of the ensaimadas of Mallorca, a typical souvenir that is seen by dozens on every plane departing from the island. Most airlines let this sweet on board (for example, Air Europa and Vueling allow two per passenger, while Iberia Express allows one). The latest controversy has recently arisen at the Balearic airport with Ryanair. Apparently, the airline demanded that two passengers had to pay 45 euros to check in for each ensaimada they wanted to board the plane.
Ryanair is supposed to allow the introduction of this type of products, but only if they have been purchased at the airport Duty Free. On this occasion, the passengers had bought the Mallorcan sweets in an oven in the municipality of Porreres, according to El Diario. For that reason, the company asked them for that amount of money to check in the ensaimadas, as an extra package.
The travelers decided not to accept this payment, and gave the ensaimadas to the airport cleaning staff. They then went to file a complaint.
Due to this controversy, the Balearic Minister of Tourism, Iago Negueruela called a meeting to resolve the issue and with the intention of “defending local products and avoid any kind of discrimination”, according to The Guardian. Another who also raised his voice was Pep Magraner, president of the Balearic confectioners association, who criticized that passengers could carry on board only ensaimadas bought in Duty Free, because that discriminated against other suppliers. “All other airlines allow passengers to take two ensaimadas on board,” Magraner explained. “It’s only a problem with Ryanair, but we’re talking about many flights, especially to the mainland, which is the destination for most of these sweets.”