Losing your luggage is every traveler’s worst nightmare. For one Ryanair passenger, this nightmare was realized, as they discovered they left their carry-on bag on the plane.
It’s not uncommon for horror stories of damaged carry-on luggage to go viral—but what happens if you forget your bag entirely?
TikToker Tatum Johnson (@tatumjohnson78) found out the answer to this the hard way. Her journey started off on a positive note, as she posted multiple TikToks about sitting next to a “hot British man” on her flight. However, things took a turn in her most viral video, which amassed 1.7 million views.
In the video, which is soundtracked with the song “Fergalicious,” a stressed-looking Johnson held what looked like a paper form while looking at the camera.
The on-screen text read: “You guys. I was so flustered I left my carry on on the flight. That suitcase genuinely has everything I need on it. Ryanair said ‘they don’t deal with luggage left on the plane’ and gave me a piece of paper of where I can file a lost property complaint. They said there is a CHANCE it will be on the luggage belt so I’m waiting for that now. Thoughts and prayers please.”
BroBible reached out to Johnson via email and Ryanair via contact form.
What Did Commenters Say?
Some commenters were unsupportive. “You walked off,” one wrote. “No suitcase. Then went where? You didn’t turn around and go back to the plane?”
“How?” a second asked. “How do you forget something like that? I’m not being snarky… I’m asking a legit question. How do you forget your phone, your laptop, your carry-on bag… How?”
While a third quipped, “If you put your phone away for more than 2 seconds, you would probably not be in this situation.”
Other commenters shared their own, similar stories.
“Did that once,” a fourth shared. “Flight attendant laughed in my face while bringing it out and said ‘Who forgets their carryon?’. Was like the second time ever I didn’t check it out of convenience. It will be ok and honest mistake.”
A fifth noted, “I left my laptop on a flight in Heathrow and they sent it to lost property and I had to pay 30 pounds to get it back!”
And a sixth said, “Left my Nintendo DS and case with all the games in it in the plane seat pocket as a kid and I have NEVER forgotten anything else ever again.”
One self-identified flight attendant added that “you’d be shocked how often this happens.”
Did She Get Her Carry-On?
In a follow-up TikTok, Johnson shared how her story had a happy ending. The clip consisted of her filming the luggage conveyor belt at the airport until her roller suitcase appeared, which she triumphantly filmed herself reclaiming.
In the on-screen text, she first addressed the “hot British man” situation. She then went on to explain what happened to her luggage.
“The last chapter of the hot British man and forgotten luggage saga: guys he was asleep with his AirPods in the entire time. There was legit NOTHING I COULD THINK OF that wasn’t creepy/weird,” she wrote. “So it wasn’t meant to be. That’s that And RyanAir came through and returned my luggage back to me. Thank you God. Thank you RyanAir. What a rollercoaster. Time to go work on job apps for the rest of the day.”
She added in the video description, “Waiting for my luggage not knowing if it was gonna come was the worst 30 mins of my life.”
What Are The Rules On Ryanair?
Different airlines have different rules when it comes to misplaced/lost luggage. Some airlines, like American Airlines, have a reimbursement policy.
Meanwhile, Ryanair stipulates on its website that for lost or damaged luggage, the customer must write to Ryanair within seven days. For delayed luggage, this extends to 21 days from the day you get your luggage back.
The site also says that customers must give Ryanair 14 days to respond to these claims before involving third parties.
On a broader level, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website says that, for domestic flights, the maximum baggage liability is $4,700. Meanwhile, the maximum liability for international flights covered by the Montreal Convention is 1,519 Special Drawing Rights. The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that this works out as approximately $2,175 per passenger. It should be noted that airlines can pay more than this—but aren’t obliged to.
Fortunately, by getting her luggage 30 minutes later, Johnson avoided this particular headache.