The passenger felt humiliated by the airline staff.
A female passenger has accused EasyJet of humiliating her during a recent flight. Daisy Crawford was traveling from Bristol to Belfast on April 27 and passed through security without issue. However, at the gate, the 40-year-old mother was asked to pay an additional £50 ($66) for her pumped breast milk.
She was told she must either pay the fee or pack her pump and milk into her cabin luggage. To avoid the charge, she attempted to show staff airline guidelines stating that her breast-pumping equipment did not count as a cabin bag. However, she had no internet connection to access the information. The “stony-faced” staff showed no empathy, she said, noting that her breast milk was critical for her premature baby’s health.
The mother of three repacked her belongings to make room. “Eventually I wore a jumper, jacket and coat and put my flip-flops in my pockets, so that I could fit the cool bag in my bag. At this point I was absolutely furious, upset and humiliated,” she said. Staff allegedly threatened to leave without her as the shuttle bus waited.
Crawford said she had researched the rules in advance and believed she was permitted to travel with breast milk at no extra charge. She had encountered no issues on her earlier flight to Bristol.
“Why should I have to use space in an already small baggage allowance to carry equipment that is essential to me as a breastfeeding mother? It’s medically necessary, and I don’t think someone with other medical equipment would be expected to fit it in their hand luggage or be charged extra.”
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Crawford said she was treated unfairly because she is breastfeeding.
The British low-cost airline has since apologized. “We are very sorry for Ms. Crawford’s experience while boarding her flight, as this is not the level of service we expect. We advise customers to carry baby milk in their cabin baggage and do allow customers an additional free-of-charge bag for a breast pump and milk. We ask them to let us know in advance of travel so there are no issues at the gate.”
It’s a Problem
Traveling with baby food and breast milk is a common challenge for mothers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides clear guidance: breast milk, breast pumps, baby food, formula, and ice or gel packs (even melted) are allowed in carry-on luggage. These are considered medically necessary liquids and are exempt from the 100-milliliter limit and quart-size bag requirement. Passengers do not need to be traveling with a child to bring them onboard.
Most airlines allow breast pumps as an additional free item.
These items may be screened by officers, and the TSA states that X-rays do not affect the milk. However, travelers may opt out and undergo alternative screening procedures. According to TSA guidance, “Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.”
Despite these guidelines, many mothers report inconsistent treatment by airline and airport staff.
Last year, Erika Geraghty sued Delta Air Lines after she was told to either check her second bag—which contained her pump and breast milk—or discard it. She checked the bag, couldn’t pump during the flight, and experienced leaking milk that soaked her blouse. Her pump was later found to be damaged.
In 2023, actress Keke Palmer tweeted that airport officials in Texas threatened to discard her breast milk. In 2022, Netflix host Emily Calandrelli faced similar treatment when officers told her to check or dispose of her ice packs because they weren’t fully frozen. She checked them in, which prevented her from pumping before the flight as she couldn’t keep the milk cold.
Calandrelli’s incident led to the introduction of the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act in 2022. The bill aimed to improve compliance, update TSA guidance, and reduce the risk of contamination by working with maternal health groups. It builds on the original BABES Act, passed in 2016.
The updated legislation passed the Senate in 2024 but failed in the House. It has since been reintroduced. A press release noted, “Unsanitary screenings of breast milk or formula put children at risk. Additionally, lactating parents must breastfeed or pump every few hours to avoid complications like clogged milk ducts or mastitis, a painful and potentially serious infection.”
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Breastfeeding and Baby Care at Disney Park
