Vueling airlines

This may apply and you may want to familiarize yourself with this regarding the delay and missed flight.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

Did the carry on bag conform to their dimensional and weight restrictions?

George,

"Agents forced me to check carry-on and charged 60 € even if I had already paid for checking luggage."- checked means you give it up at the check-in desk or self check-in kiosk and they fly it in the hold, you see it on the caroussel in Baggage Reclaim when you land. If you paid to have it checked-in and carried to the gate, it is totally your fault. Maybe you can clarify the baggage status?

Vueling is squarely in the "budget" - aka pay for everything extra - category, and I think to some extent, you got caught be trying to go with an oversized carry on. As often discussed here, the airlines - both budget and/or "reputable" - have carry on limits they sometimes strictly enforce. A budget airline, where they offer low fares but nickel and dime you for everything else, are almost guaranteed to enforce those luggage rules - checked and carry on.

It would help to know a bit about your "agents forced me to check carry-on" comment. Which agents? When?

IOW, prior to security and at the check-in area where folks normally go to print a boarding pass and drop their checked luggage, your bags will be handled one way. At the gate and having your bag "gate checked", your bag may be treated another way altogether.

In the past, when we GATE checked a bag, it was often waiting for us when we got off the plane - ie not at the luggage carousel. If that was when you had your bag checked, were they clear where you would retrieve your bag after the flight?

Regardless, the airline and the airport should have a better idea where the bag ended up. Maybe trying the BCN folks instead of the Vueling reps could help things. Hindsight suggests Airtags for all luggage as a cheap and easy tool, as well as luggage name tags/contact info on all bags but without that, hopefully it's something that eventually turns up in a "system" somewhere that lets them (airline or airport) connect you to that piece of luggage.

I am curious. Haven't I read somewhere before that some of the really discounted carriers have more restrictive sizes for carry on baggage than the regular airlines (smaller dimensions)? I may be remembering wrong. Anyone have info on this?

The carry-on is 22x14x9, the max size that fits comfortably into the overhead bins of all Airbus and Boeing planes and Embraer 190. There was no weight check.
I had paid Vueling for cargo luggage up to 25kgs but had none. This was for the carry-on and it always worked, all they typically care is to see you have paid. And I did.
The gate agents were in Brussels, VY8987 was from Brussels to Barcelona. They tagged the bag to Ibiza, my final destination and charged 60 €
Apple airtags - you’re right, point taken. I average more than 100 flights every year for the last 30 years. I know what is allowed and what is not and what is borderline. Vast majority of my flights are with Air Canada and the Star Alliance. I never check anything, always travel with a carry-on and wash my clothes if it’s a longer trip

I’ve flown with Vueling a number of times beginning in 2006 when they were just starting. There were up and downs but this was bad. Including the totally unsafe attempt to land in Barcelona when the plane was shaking so violently people were holding hands and many were screaming. You simply don’t attempt to land in a thunderstorm or end up like AF447 and AF358 did (AF stands for that most dangerous major legacy airline, Air France)
I don’t know what my options are according to the Spanish law. I want to sue, if anyone can recommend a lawyer specializing in this type of cases pls let me know

George, What a terrible experience! I hope you receive some satisfying results in the end.

I have never flown on Vueling, but in looking at their website I found they have 3 levels of service, each with its own included baggage allotments. FLY // FLY Grande // FLY Light
I suspect FLY is the 'flavor' you chose and opted for the 'checked bag' option

Fly
Select the luggage you want to bring
1 underseat cabin bag
Max. 40x30x20 cm
Choose your luggage
1 checked bag (25 kg)
OR
1 piece of luggage in the overhead locker (+€6,00)Max. 10 kg and 55x40x20 cm

Absent other details I suspect the gate agent in Brussels cut you no slack and strictly enforced the rules as you were bringing aboard a carry-on bag that hadn't been paid for.

"The carry-on is 22x14x9, the max size that fits comfortably into the overhead bins of all Airbus and Boeing planes and Embraer 190. There was no weight check.
I had paid Vueling for cargo luggage up to 25kgs but had none. This was for the carry-on and it always worked, all they typically care is to see you have paid. And I did."

OP, carry-on is NOT cargo luggage. Cargo gets into the hold at the check-in desk. You made a mistake or you wanted to play the airline. Either way, the airline was right to enforce the fee.

At least you had an attentive cabin crew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h66p3gW82bM

Regards
Ron

That’s the way life goes. Mr Donald J Trump June 2026

The carry-on is 22 x 14 x 9, the max size that fits comfortably into the overhead bins of all Airbus and Boeing planes and Embraer 190. There was no weight check.

When included in your fare, Vueling’s carry on restriction is 55 x 40 x 20 cm which is 21.65 x 15.75 x 7.87 inches. There is a weight limit of 10kg. If you did not pay for that, you are still permitted to carry a personal item. That restriction is 40 x 30 x 20 which is 15.75 x 11.81 x 7.87. So, carry-on or personal item, the 22 x 14 x 9 bag was oversized, and the charge to gate check an oversized bag is apparently $60.

I am curious. Haven't I read somewhere before that some of the really discounted carriers have more restrictive sizes for carry on baggage than the regular airlines (smaller dimensions)? I may be remembering wrong. Anyone have info on this?

Wizzair size: 55 x 40 x 23 (10kg)
Ryanair size: 55 x 40 x 20 (10kg)
EasyJet: 56 x 45 x 25 (15kg)
Lufthansa (not a discount) size: 55 x 40 x 23 (8kg)
KLM (also not a discount) size: 55 x 35 x 25 (12kg including personal item)
The sizes aren’t more restrictive (okay, Ryan is a bit narrow, but you get to carry more weight than some of the big boys allow), and the enforcement isn’t greater (in my limited experience).

In the last 18 - 24 months I have flown either Ryanair or Wizzair (mostly WizzAir) not less than 11 times. My bag has never been checked for size or weight, nor did I observe anyone else having their carry-on checked for size or weight. On the contrary, about a week ago I watched a flight attendant on Wizzair assist in stuffing oversized bags in the overhead compartment. Size and weight of carry-on bags isn’t their game. Their game is quantity; and that they do enforce.

In the same period, I flew Lufthansa, Austrian Air, Air Serbia, American and Iberian. Lufthansa, Austrian and American all were checking bag sizes to some degree. Austrian and Lufthansa have been the most aggressive in my very limited experience with them doing spot checks about a third of the flights I have been on.

I don’t sweat any of this because I read and understand and comply with the rules. I am all in favor of greater enforcement as I am PWT and have to fly cheap without a checked bag and I am generally in the last boarding group and those that dont follow the rules make it hard for me to get on and get my luggage stowed.

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience and certainly understand your frustration. Like Mr E, I looked up Vueling's carry on size policy when you mentioned your bag size, and I started doing math, converting cm to inches (before scrolling down to Mr E's post to see that he had already done it).

The carry-on is 22x14x9, the max size that fits comfortably into the
overhead bins of all Airbus and Boeing planes and Embraer 190.

As one who "average[s] more than 100 flights every year for the last 30 years," you know what fits in Boeing/Airbus/Embraer overhead compartments is immaterial to this conversation. You are obliged, of course, to conform to the airline's size limits. I'm guessing the size is what forced the gate check. The airline's obligation, of course, is to get you and your bag to your destination, which the airline failed miserably at doing. I'm no lawyer, but I think your rights are probably going to be defined more by EU law than by Spanish law. You are certainly entitled to compensation under EU law.

Of note, a friend once tried to carry a slightly oversized carry on onto a US budget airline. The gate agent gave him the choice of (1) going back to the ticket counter on the other side of security to check the bag (guaranteeing he would miss the flight) or (2) leaving the bag behind.

George, Dave; sorry, I concentrated too much on the bag size. They had a responsibility to get the bag to the destination. What you are going through on that front is not excusable.