I Face Unofficial Extra Baggage Fee On Southwind Airlines Antalya-Ekaterinburg Flight

On December 25, 2024, I was traveling with another passenger on Southwind Airlines flight 2S125 from Antalya to Ekaterinburg, scheduled for 18:20. While checking in our baggage, we were unfairly charged additional fees. First, we were told that our luggage exceeded the weight limit by just 1 kilo. Then, they claimed that our carry-on baggage did not meet size standards—even though we have used the same hand luggage on at least five or six flights throughout the year without any issue.

The ground staff threatened us by saying, “If you pay here, it’s $30, but if you pay upstairs, it will be $60.” We had no choice but to pay $30 in cash. No receipt or invoice was issued for this payment, which raises serious concerns about whether this was an official airline policy or an off-the-record practice by the staff.

I even pointed out the inconsistency: my own weight is 102 kg and my wife’s is 65 kg, yet nobody considers the weight difference between passengers—while we were forced to pay for just 0.5 kg overage in baggage. When I questioned the staff, the only answer I received was, “This is not another airline, this is how we operate.”

I believe Southwind Airlines should either adopt precise baggage measuring systems or investigate whether staff are personally profiting from such extra charges. The way we were treated ruined the enjoyment of our holiday and journey.

I want Southwind Airlines to explain whether these payments are part of official company policy or an unauthorized practice, and I demand a refund of the unfairly collected $30. While I must acknowledge that the in-flight service and crew professionalism were very good, the ground operations and customer treatment at the airport were extremely disappointing.